The homeless internationals
Cricketers who've played the most matches without a game at home, and the other way round
Travis Basevi and George Binoy
07-Jul-2010
Mohammad Aamer hasn't played an international in Pakistan yet • Getty Images
The backing from the pro-Pakistan crowds in the Twenty20 against Australia at Edgbaston was possibly the closest Mohammad Aamer and Umar Akmal have come to experiencing "home" support. They've entertained spectators in Australia, England, West Indies, New Zealand, South Africa, Sri Lanka and the UAE, but due to the security situation in Pakistan following the Lahore attack, Aamer and Akmal are yet to play an international at home, real home.
Aamer has now played 41 international matches (eight Tests, 15 ODIs and 18 Twenty20s), while Akmal has played 38 (six Tests, 18 ODIs, and 14 Twenty20s). They are second and third on the list of players with the most matches without playing one at home. If Aamer plays all the remaining internationals on the tour of England (six Tests, five ODIs and two Twenty20s), he will have played the most matches - passing Sri Lankan medium-pacer Graeme Labrooy's mark of 53 - without a home game.
Labrooy's record, like those of Aamer and Akmal, was also a result of unfavourable security conditions at home. He made his one-day debut against India in November 1986 and played his first Test in Kanpur in December that year. An ordinary performance in that match - 1 for 164 - possibly prevented Labrooy's selection for the first home Test against New Zealand in April 1987. New Zealand's tour was cancelled soon after because of domestic violence in Sri Lanka and international cricket returned to the country only in August 1992, four months after Labrooy played his last international. As a result, Labrooy played nine Tests and 44 ODIs in seven countries, at venues as famous as Lord's and as obscure as Ballarat, and none in Sri Lanka.
| Player | Span | Mat | Tests | ODIs | T20Is | List | Num |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GF Labrooy (SL) | 1986-1992 | 53 | 9 | 44 | 0 | Aus 18, India 14, UAE 10, NZ 5, Pak 2, Ban 2, Eng 2 | 7 |
| Mohammad Aamer (Pak) | 2009-2010 | 41 | 8 | 15 | 18 | SL 11, Eng 9, WI 6, UAE 5, Aus 4, SA 3, NZ 3 | 7 |
| Umar Akmal (Pak) | 2009-2010 | 38 | 6 | 18 | 14 | Aus 9, SL 8, WI 6, UAE 6, SA 4, NZ 3, Eng 2 | 7 |
| IH Romaine (Ber) | 2006-2009 | 37 | 0 | 35 | 2 | Kenya 11, WI 8, Can 7, SA 6, Neth 3, Ire 2 | 6 |
| RDM Leverock (Ber) | 2006-2009 | 34 | 0 | 32 | 2 | Kenya 10, WI 7, SA 6, Can 6, Neth 3, Ire 2 | 6 |
| KIW Wijegunawardene (SL) | 1988-1992 | 28 | 2 | 26 | 0 | Aus 7, India 7, Pak 6, Ban 4, NZ 2, UAE 1, Eng 1 | 7 |
| SD Outerbridge (Ber) | 2006-2009 | 26 | 0 | 23 | 3 | Kenya 7, Can 7, SA 4, Ire 3, Neth 3, WI 2 | 6 |
| LOB Cann (Ber) | 2006-2009 | 26 | 0 | 26 | 0 | Kenya 8, WI 7, SA 6, Can 3, Neth 2 | 5 |
| JJ Tucker (Ber) | 2006-2009 | 26 | 0 | 26 | 0 | Kenya 11, WI 7, SA 6, Can 2 | 4 |
| DL Hemp (Ber) | 2006-2009 | 24 | 0 | 22 | 2 | Kenya 11, SA 6, WI 5, Ire 2 | 4 |
| PA Nixon (Eng) | 2007-2007 | 20 | 0 | 19 | 1 | Aus 11, WI 9 | 2 |
| DA Minors (Ber) | 2006-2007 | 20 | 0 | 20 | 0 | Kenya 8, WI 8, SA 4 | 3 |
| S Mukuddem (Ber) | 2006-2007 | 20 | 0 | 20 | 0 | Kenya 7, WI 7, SA 4, Can 2 | 4 |
| AJ Redmond (NZ) | 2008-2010 | 19 | 7 | 5 | 7 | Eng 6, UAE 4, Ban 2, Aus 2, USA 2, SA 2, WI 1 | 7 |
| KAD Hurdle (Ber) | 2006-2007 | 19 | 0 | 19 | 0 | Kenya 9, WI 6, SA 2, Can 2 | 4 |
| Mohammad Nabi (Afgh) | 2009-2010 | 16 | 0 | 8 | 8 | UAE 6, Neth 5, SL 2, WI 2, SA 1 | 5 |
| Nawroz Mangal (Afgh) | 2009-2010 | 16 | 0 | 8 | 8 | UAE 6, Neth 5, SL 2, WI 2, SA 1 | 5 |
| Samiullah Shenwari (Afgh) | 2009-2010 | 16 | 0 | 8 | 8 | UAE 6, Neth 5, SL 2, WI 2, SA 1 | 5 |
| NLTC Perera (SL) | 2009-2010 | 16 | 0 | 10 | 6 | WI 4, Zim 4, Ban 4, USA 2, India 2 | 5 |
| W Bates (Eng) | 1881-1887 | 15 | 15 | 0 | 0 | Aus 15 | 1 |
| Mohammad Shahzad (Afgh) | 2009-2010 | 15 | 0 | 7 | 8 | UAE 6, Neth 5, SL 2, WI 2 | 4 |
| Shapoor Zadran (Afgh) | 2009-2010 | 15 | 0 | 7 | 8 | UAE 6, Neth 5, SL 2, WI 2 | 4 |
Pakistan players, present and past, dominate the table of those with the smallest percentage of home matches during their careers. Offspinner Saeed Ajmal played his first two international matches in Karachi but only one of his next 51 games in Pakistan - he has played only 5.7% of his matches at home, the second lowest ratio after Labrooy.
Opener Imran Nazir has played only 11 of his 106 matches in Pakistan. His 10.60% of home games is the lowest for anyone with more than 100 caps. Similarly Rashid Latif (17.70%) and Shahid Afridi (20.20%) have the lowest percentage of home matches for players with more than 200 and 300 internationals respectively.
| Player | Span | Mat | Home | % | Tests | ODIs | T20Is | List | Num |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GF Labrooy (SL) | 1986-1992 | 53 | 0 | 0.0 | 9 | 44 | 0 | Aus 18, India 14, UAE 10, NZ 5, Pak 2, Ban 2, Eng 2 | 7 |
| Saeed Ajmal (Pak) | 2008-2010 | 54 | 3 | 5.55 | 5 | 27 | 22 | UAE 15, SL 10, Eng 9, WI 6, Aus 6, SA 4, Pak 3, NZ 1 | 8 |
| Imran Nazir (Pak) | 1999-2010 | 103 | 11 | 10.6 | 8 | 79 | 16 | UAE 21, SA 15, SL 14, WI 12, Pak 11, Kenya 7, Moroc 4, Aus 4, Ban 4, Eng 3, Sin 3, India 3, NZ 2 | 13 |
| RG Sharma (India) | 2007-2010 | 69 | 9 | 13.0 | 0 | 50 | 19 | SL 13, Aus 11, India 9, WI 7, Zim 6, Pak 6, Eng 5, SA 4, NZ 3, Ban 3, Ire 2 | 11 |
| AC Cummins (Can/WI) | 1991-2007 | 81 | 11 | 13.5 | 5 | 76 | 0 | Aus 21, India 17, WI 16, Kenya 8, UAE 8, NZ 6, SL 2, Pak 2, SA 1 | 9 |
| Asif Mujtaba (Pak) | 1986-1997 | 91 | 13 | 14.2 | 25 | 66 | 0 | UAE 16, Pak 13, Eng 12, Aus 11, SL 10, SA 9, NZ 9, WI 7, Zim 4 | 9 |
| RJ Ratnayake (SL) | 1982-1993 | 93 | 15 | 16.1 | 23 | 70 | 0 | Aus 21, India 18, SL 15, Pak 12, NZ 11, UAE 9, Eng 7 | 7 |
| Azhar Mahmood (Pak) | 1996-2007 | 164 | 27 | 16.4 | 21 | 143 | 0 | Pak 27, Eng 21, Aus 17, UAE 16, Can 15, Ban 13, SA 13, Kenya 9, NZ 8, India 8, Zim 7, SL 5, Sin 3, WI 1, Moroc 1 | 15 |
| Rashid Latif (Pak) | 1992-2003 | 203 | 36 | 17.7 | 37 | 166 | 0 | UAE 37, Pak 36, SA 29, SL 17, NZ 17, Eng 15, Aus 12, Zim 10, Ban 10, WI 6, Kenya 5, Moroc 4, Sin 4, India 1 | 14 |
| D Ganga (WI) | 1998-2008 | 84 | 15 | 17.8 | 48 | 35 | 1 | WI 15, SA 12, NZ 10, Zim 9, Aus 9, SL 8, UAE 5, Pak 5, Ban 5, Eng 4, Kenya 2 | 11 |
The smallest percentage of home Tests in a career (minimum of 20 matches) belongs to former West Indian captain John Goddard, who played only four out of 27 games (14.80%) in the Caribbean. Among those who played at least 50 ODIs, Clive Lloyd has the lowest proportion of home games - 8%. He played only seven out of 87 one-dayers in the West Indies. In Twenty20 internationals, the lowest percentage of home games belongs to Ajmal again. He hasn't played any of his 21 matches in Pakistan.
England fast bowler John Snow, on the other hand, possesses the largest percentage of home games in a career of at least 50 matches. Snow played 45 out of his 58 games in England - 77.50%. He went on only three tours - to Australia, West Indies and Pakistan. He could have played a third Test in Pakistan had he not bowled fast bouncers at Tom Graveney, the vice-captain, on a dangerous net pitch on the eve of the first Test in Lahore.
| Player | Span | Mat | Home | % | Tests | ODIs | T20Is | List | Num |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JA Snow (Eng) | 1965-1976 | 58 | 45 | 77.5 | 49 | 9 | 0 | Eng 45, Aus 7, WI 4, Pak 2 | 4 |
| PL Taylor (Aus) | 1987-1992 | 96 | 70 | 72.9 | 13 | 83 | 0 | Aus 70, NZ 7, UAE 6, WI 6, India 4, Pak 3 | 6 |
| MR Whitney (Aus) | 1981-1993 | 50 | 36 | 72.0 | 12 | 38 | 0 | Aus 36, WI 7, SL 5, Eng 2 | 4 |
| R Illingworth (Eng) | 1958-1973 | 64 | 45 | 70.3 | 61 | 3 | 0 | Eng 45, Aus 9, WI 5, NZ 5 | 4 |
| CG Rackemann (Aus) | 1982-1991 | 64 | 45 | 70.3 | 12 | 52 | 0 | Aus 45, India 5, NZ 5, UAE 3, Eng 3, WI 3 | 6 |
| FS Trueman (Eng) | 1952-1965 | 67 | 47 | 70.1 | 67 | 0 | 0 | Eng 47, WI 8, Aus 8, NZ 4 | 4 |
| RM Hogg (Aus) | 1978-1985 | 109 | 76 | 69.7 | 38 | 71 | 0 | Aus 76, Eng 13, India 8, WI 7, SL 5 | 5 |
| M Hendrick (Eng) | 1973-1981 | 52 | 36 | 69.2 | 30 | 22 | 0 | Eng 36, Aus 11, NZ 4, Pak 1 | 4 |
| SJ Benn (WI) | 2008-2010 | 50 | 34 | 68.0 | 15 | 18 | 17 | WI 34, Eng 10, Aus 3, NZ 3 | 4 |
| MA Vermeulen (Zim) | 2000-2009 | 51 | 34 | 66.6 | 8 | 43 | 0 | Zim 34, Aus 6, Eng 4, Pak 3, Ban 2, SA 1, UAE 1 | 7 |
| GS Chappell (Aus) | 1970-1984 | 161 | 107 | 66.4 | 87 | 74 | 0 | Aus 107, Eng 28, NZ 13, SL 5, WI 5, Pak 3 | 6 |
| DR Pringle (Eng) | 1982-1993 | 74 | 49 | 66.2 | 30 | 44 | 0 | Eng 49, Aus 11, NZ 7, Pak 3, India 2, UAE 2 | 6 |
| J Dyson (Aus) | 1977-1984 | 59 | 39 | 66.1 | 30 | 29 | 0 | Aus 39, Eng 8, Pak 6, NZ 6 | 4 |
| APE Knott (Eng) | 1967-1981 | 115 | 74 | 64.3 | 95 | 20 | 0 | Eng 74, Aus 15, India 10, WI 7, Pak 6, NZ 3 | 6 |
| KJ Hughes (Aus) | 1977-1985 | 167 | 107 | 64.0 | 70 | 97 | 0 | Aus 107, Eng 23, India 11, Pak 9, WI 9, NZ 6, UAE 2 | 7 |
| DK Lillee (Aus) | 1971-1984 | 133 | 85 | 63.9 | 70 | 63 | 0 | Aus 85, Eng 33, NZ 8, SL 3, Pak 3, WI 1 | 6 |
| AW Greig (Eng) | 1972-1977 | 80 | 51 | 63.7 | 58 | 22 | 0 | Eng 51, India 10, Aus 8, WI 5, Pak 3, NZ 3 | 6 |
| VL Manjrekar (India) | 1951-1965 | 55 | 35 | 63.6 | 55 | 0 | 0 | India 35, WI 9, Eng 6, Pak 5 | 4 |
| CG Borde (India) | 1958-1969 | 55 | 35 | 63.6 | 55 | 0 | 0 | India 35, Eng 7, WI 5, NZ 4, Aus 4 | 5 |
| DG Bradman (Aus) | 1928-1948 | 52 | 33 | 63.4 | 52 | 0 | 0 | Aus 33, Eng 19 | 2 |
| SP O'Donnell (Aus) | 1985-1991 | 93 | 59 | 63.4 | 6 | 87 | 0 | Aus 59, India 11, UAE 9, Eng 8, NZ 5, Pak 1 | 6 |
| RW Marsh (Aus) | 1970-1984 | 188 | 119 | 63.2 | 96 | 92 | 0 | Aus 119, Eng 42, NZ 13, Pak 9, WI 5 | 5 |
The record for the longest career played entirely at home belongs to Stanley Jackson, who played 20 Tests for England between 1893 and 1905. He missed a tour of Australia because of business reasons, but did travel to India with Lord Hawke's team in the winter of 1892-93.
There are a couple of current players who've only played international matches at home so far. All of Peter Ingram's two Tests, six ODIs and three Twenty20s have been in New Zealand, while Darren Bravo's 11 games (10 ODIs and a Twenty20) have been played in the West Indies.
| Player | Span | Mat | Tests | ODIs | T20Is |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hon.FS Jackson (Eng) | 1893-1905 | 20 | 20 | 0 | 0 |
| A McGrath (Eng) | 2003-2004 | 18 | 4 | 14 | 0 |
| H Ironmonger (Aus) | 1928-1933 | 14 | 14 | 0 | 0 |
| SF Graf (Aus) | 1980-1981 | 11 | 0 | 11 | 0 |
| PJ Ingram (NZ) | 2010-2010 | 11 | 2 | 6 | 3 |
| DM Bravo (WI) | 2009-2010 | 11 | 0 | 10 | 1 |
| WW Wade (SA) | 1938-1950 | 11 | 11 | 0 | 0 |
| RH Spooner (Eng) | 1905-1912 | 10 | 10 | 0 | 0 |
| DS Steele (Eng) | 1975-1976 | 9 | 8 | 1 | 0 |
| EA Halliwell (SA) | 1892-1902 | 8 | 8 | 0 | 0 |
| KE Rigg (Aus) | 1931-1937 | 8 | 8 | 0 | 0 |
| AK Patel (India) | 1984-1985 | 8 | 0 | 8 | 0 |
| JW Wilson (NZ) | 1993-2005 | 7 | 0 | 6 | 1 |
| HV Hordern (Aus) | 1911-1912 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| AE Hall (SA) | 1923-1931 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| RK Oxenham (Aus) | 1928-1931 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| FT Badcock (NZ) | 1930-1933 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| AM de Silva (SL) | 1986-1993 | 7 | 3 | 4 | 0 |
| MJ Procter (SA) | 1967-1970 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| RE Bryson (SA) | 1997-1997 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 0 |
If there's a particular List you would like to see, email us with your comments and suggestions.
George Binoy is an Assistant Editor at Cricinfo