5 Players who shifted their base and then returned to play for their country

Cricketers play in different conditions throughout their professional careers to have the best of experience. Starting from playing ODIs and Tests for their country, they go on to ply their trade in various T20 leagues around the world. Sometimes players feel that they are not able to get their fair amount of chance with the national side and move on to play for other countries. Players even sign up for the Kolpak deal to get a great amount of exposure outside their country. In the same light, let’s take a look at players who shifted their base and then again came back to play for their nation.

5. Boyd Rankin

An Irish international cricketer, Boyd Rankin, went on to play for England in 2013-2014. The right-arm pacer announced in 2012 that he would like to debut for the England team, and he did in a match against New Zealand. He also got to be a part of a Test match against Australia during the 2013-14 Ashes series. However, he didn’t see a great prospect there and announced his return for the home team in the 2016 ICC T20 World Cup.

Boyd Rankin:

January 2014 – Test debut for England versus Australia
July 2019 – Playing a Test match for Ireland versus England#Cricket #ENGvIRE

— Saj Sadiq (@Saj_PakPassion) July 24, 2019

4. Kyle Jarvis

The Zimbabwean cricketer Kyle Jarvis has been up with his national side since his debut in 2009. He was a crucial bowler of his national side in the 2008 U-19 World Cup. He signed the Kolpak deal and then again returned to his home team in 2017. In 2013, he announced that he is retiring from international cricket to go up with Lancashire to pursue a county contract. However, he left it in 2017 and marked his comeback in the Zimbabwe Test team.

3. Brendan Taylor

The immensely talented former Zimbabwean captain has played all the formats of the game with his national side. Former Zimbabwe skipper Alistair Campbell even named him their “standout player for the last 7-8 years.” Taylor signed the Kolpak deal and quit his side after the 2015 WC to ply his trade for Nottinghamshire, but he terminated his contract in 2017 and returned to play for Zimbabwe again. It was reported that he returned for personal reasons.

2. Ed Joyce

Joyce is a former Irish cricketer who was part of both the Ireland and England team during his professional career. After kicking off his career with Middlesex, he joined hands with Sussex in 2009 and then returned to play for Ireland. The left-handed opener is deemed as one of the best cricketers produced by Ireland so far. He has played 78 ODIs and 18 T20Is, and his records in first-class cricket are exceptional.

In World Cup 2007 – Ed Joyce for ENGLAND, Morgan for IRELAND
In World Cup 2011 & 2015 – Ed Joyce for IRELAND, Morgan for ENGLAND

— Bharath Seervi (@SeerviBharath) February 13, 2015

1. Kyle Abbott

The South African pacer Abbott has represented his nation across all the formats of the game from 2013 to 2017. In January 2017, after the conclusion of the second Test between the Proteas team and Sri Lanka, Abbott signed a Kolpak deal with Hampshire County Cricket Club, which ended his international career. But he is again available to ply his trade for the national team. He has been part of 11 Tests and 28 ODIs so far.