The only player to score Test centuries and 1000 runs each for two separate countries
Former cricketer Kepler Wessels was born in September 14, 1957 at Bloemfontein, Orange Free State. He is the only player to score centuries and 1000 runs each for two separate countries in the longest format of the game. Wessels played 40 Test matches in total with 24 coming for Australia and 16 for South Africa.
Playing for the Aussies, Wessels made his Test debut against England in Brisbane in the second of the five-match 1982/1983 Ashes series. The left-handed batter made a dream debut as he scored 162 and 46 in the first and second innings respectively with Australia also winning the match and Wessels grabbing the Player of the Match award. His last appearance for the Australians came against New Zealand in Brisbane in 1985.
Kepler began his South African journey against West Indies in Bridgetown in April 1992. He was the skipper of the Proteas side, with him amassing 59 and 74 runs in the first and second innings respectively.
In 24 matches for Australia, he scored 1761 runs at an average of 42.95, which included four centuries and nine half-centuries with the highest score of 179 in 42 innings. For South Africa, he managed to amass 1027 runs in 16 games at an average of 38.03.
In 29 innings, he smashed two centuries and six half-centuries with the highest score of 118. Overall, his Test career numbers read as 2788 runs in 40 matches at an average of 41.00. In 71 innings, he struck six tons and 15 fifties.
He also played first-class matches for Orange Free State, Western Province, Northern Transvaal, Eastern Province, and Griqualand West in South Africa, for Queensland in Australia, and Sussex in England. Wessels celebrates his 65th Birthday on September 14, 2022. After retirement, former Protea skipper turned commentator and also took a coaching role.