Cricket is one of the most followed games in the world, it’s only natural that competition to break into International squads will be immense. The intensity of competition will always vary from country to country in terms of population, demographics and other factors. For example, the cut-throat competition that people in India face with a population of 1.3 billion to break into the playing XI can never ever be compared with that of New Zealand where the population is way less compared to India. While the good part about this has to be that intense competition brings the best out of individuals, there’s a flip side to this as well. Often, a player who might be capable of doing good in International cricket might perhaps miss out on good opportunities to play at the International level just because of the factors associated with the country.
Well, that’s exactly the reason we have often in the past seen popular cricketers who decided to move out of their OG country to a different country just because they perhaps lacked opportunities in the former. Not just that folks, some might have had other reasons as well. Well, whatever the reason in their personal lives, it has certainly done wonders for them in their professional career. So today here’s taking a quick look at 8 such cricketers who made an impact in the world of cricket, the speciality about them being born in a different country and representing some other. Check out below –
Andrew Strauss – He is one of the finest and most formidable opening batsmen to have played the game of cricket for England. While he’s a legend in the true sense of the term for England cricket, not many possibly know that he was actually born in Johannesburg South Africa. He has played 100 Tests for England and has scored 7037 runs at an average of 40.91. He’s also scored 4205 runs in ODI cricket in 127 games. He was born in South Africa but eventually moved to England and the rest is history.
Kevin Pietersen: Just like Andrew Strauss, even Kevin Pietersen, one of the finest middle-order batsmen and stroke players is also a South African by birth. Pietersen initially played domestic cricket in South Africa and it was only after that, did he make the switch to England and moved there. He burst into the England squad and from then till his retirement, he’s been a regular member of the squad. In 104 Tests, he tallied 8,181 runs with 23 centuries and hit nine centuries in a 136-match ODI career in which he scored 4,440 runs.
Chris Jordan: He is one of the finest bowlers right now in English cricket and as far as reputation is concerned, he’s said to be one of the best death-over specialists in limited-overs cricket. Not just for England, he also plays in several domestic T20 tournaments in many countries and we love it. However, not many perhaps know the fact that Jordan was actually born in Barbados in West Indies before he eventually made the switch and moved to England cricket. A good and brave decision that certainly worked in his favour.
Imran Tahir – He’s one of the most impactful and stunning cricketers to have played the game for South Africa. He’s a spinner who can create trouble for all sorts of batsmen in all formats. Be it T20 cricket, ODI or Test cricket, Tahir has got all the skills in his kitty to do well and make an impact. Imran Tahir was originally born in Lahore, Pakistan before he eventually made the switch and moved to South Africa. He began his cricket career in Pakistan and played the 1998 ICC Under 19 World Cup for the country of his birth, but later moved to South Africa to be with the woman who later became his wife. It took Tahir time to establish himself in the South African setup. However, he did it in grand style and the rest is history.
Imad Wasim – Imad Wasim is one of the handiest spinners and lower-order batsmen that the Pakistan cricket team currently has. Not many are perhaps aware of the fact that Imad is actually the first-ever cricketer from Swansea in Wales to eventually represent Pakistan in International cricket. He was born in Swansea post where he got an opportunity to play for Pakistan in Under 19s and the rest is history. Currently, Wasim is a regular part of the Pakistan team and fans love it.
Andy Flower: He is undoubtedly the finest-ever batsman to have played the game of cricket for Zimbabwe. Andy Flower was the most dependable batsman of the Zimbabwe team around the 1990s and early 2000s. He has scored 4,794 runs in 63 Tests and 6,786 runs in 213 ODIs in an 11-year-long international career. However, not many know the fact that he was actually born in Cape Town, South Africa in 1968. Not just as a cricketer, he’s also been successful as a coach, this time for the England cricket team.
Eoin Morgan – Eoin Morgan is one of the finest cricketers to have played for England. He’s been a limited-overs specialist for the longest time and what better than the title of England’s World Cup-winning captain in the year 2019? He’s had a successful career in limited-overs cricket. However, before England, he also represented Ireland in International cricket which is his home country. Not just born in a different country, he’s one of those rare examples who’s actually played International cricket for two different teams.
Ish Sodhi: He’s someone who’s got all the expertise with him when it comes to foxing the batsman while playing. He’s a fine find for New Zealand who bowls right-arm leg spin and bars right-handed. While he’s helping New Zealand to a great extent in International cricket, he was actually born in Ludhiana in Punjab in the year 1992. He quickly moved to New Zealand and after that, things have been hunky-dory for him. He’s now an active member of the squad and things will only get better for him from here onwards.
Well, these players and their successful life instances serve as perfect validations for the fact that taking the right call at the right time is absolutely necessary when it comes to strategic planning. At the end of the day, fortune always favours the brave and when the going gets tough, the tough get going. With the intensity of competition increasing all the way more with every passing year, don’t be surprised if many more players start making switches in the future.