Wessels’ extraordinary career started when he moved from South Africa to Australia in search of international cricketing opportunities, as South Africa was banned from world sports during the apartheid era.
In his first Test match for Australia, against England in the 1982-83 Ashes series in Brisbane, Wessels made an instant impact by scoring 162 runs in his debut innings.
His composed 162 in that match marked the beginning of a successful stint in Australian cricket.
Kepler Wessels (ICC Photo)
In the following years, he established himself as an integral member of the Australian team in both Test and ODI cricket.
Wessels’ career took a significant turn when South Africa were readmitted to international cricket in the early 1990s.
Wessels returned to represent his home country – South Africa. He was named captain of the South African team in their first Test match post-isolation, against the West Indies in 1991-92. He also led South Africa in their first appearance in the Cricket World Cup since the 1970s, during the 1992 edition.
Wessels’ crowning achievement for South Africa was his 105 against England at Lord’s in 1994. He became the only cricketer to score centuries for two nations in Test matches.
Throughout his Test career, Wessels scored six centuries and 15 half-centuries. In his ODI career, which spanned 109 matches, he scored one century and 26 fifties.
