One of us against us
A selection of people who did well in international cricket against the country in which they were born
Steven Lynch
28-Oct-2013
Kevin Pietersen has scored three Test hundreds against his home country, South Africa • Getty Images
Imran Tahir
The man who inspired this list, the bouncy legspinner Imran Tahir took 5 for 32 as his adopted country, South Africa, rolled his native Pakistan for 99 in the first innings of the second Test in Dubai last week. It was a far cry from his previous Test, when he was carted all around the Adelaide Oval last November for eye-watering match figures of 37-1-260-0.
The man who inspired this list, the bouncy legspinner Imran Tahir took 5 for 32 as his adopted country, South Africa, rolled his native Pakistan for 99 in the first innings of the second Test in Dubai last week. It was a far cry from his previous Test, when he was carted all around the Adelaide Oval last November for eye-watering match figures of 37-1-260-0.
Charles Bannerman
The first runs in the first-ever Test - and later the first century too - came from the bat of 25-year-old Bannerman, for Australia against England in Melbourne in March 1877. But Bannerman, who took his score to 165 before retiring hurt, was actually born in England - in Woolwich in south-east London in 1851. His parents emigrated to Sydney two years later.
The first runs in the first-ever Test - and later the first century too - came from the bat of 25-year-old Bannerman, for Australia against England in Melbourne in March 1877. But Bannerman, who took his score to 165 before retiring hurt, was actually born in England - in Woolwich in south-east London in 1851. His parents emigrated to Sydney two years later.
Eoin Morgan
The inventive Morgan scored his first one-day international century for Ireland (after a near-miss on his debut, when he was run out for 99). But there were a few embarrassed smiles in September 2013 when, by now captaining England against Ireland in Dublin - the city of his birth - Morgan rescued his adopted country from the potential banana-skin of 48 for 4, scoring 124 not out and sharing a record fifth-wicket partnership with Ravi Bopara.
The inventive Morgan scored his first one-day international century for Ireland (after a near-miss on his debut, when he was run out for 99). But there were a few embarrassed smiles in September 2013 when, by now captaining England against Ireland in Dublin - the city of his birth - Morgan rescued his adopted country from the potential banana-skin of 48 for 4, scoring 124 not out and sharing a record fifth-wicket partnership with Ravi Bopara.
Gubby Allen
Allen was very much a man of Lord's, often referred to as the eminence grise of English cricket. He played for Eton, Cambridge, Middlesex ... and was such a member of the Establishment that his house backed on to Lord's, and he had his own key to the ground. But Allen was actually born in Sydney, where he led England to victory in the second Test of the 1936-37 Ashes series. That put England 2-0 up - but the opposition had a chap called Bradman in their midst, and scores of 270, 212 and 169 from him enabled Australia, uniquely, to come from two-down to take the series 3-2.
Allen was very much a man of Lord's, often referred to as the eminence grise of English cricket. He played for Eton, Cambridge, Middlesex ... and was such a member of the Establishment that his house backed on to Lord's, and he had his own key to the ground. But Allen was actually born in Sydney, where he led England to victory in the second Test of the 1936-37 Ashes series. That put England 2-0 up - but the opposition had a chap called Bradman in their midst, and scores of 270, 212 and 169 from him enabled Australia, uniquely, to come from two-down to take the series 3-2.
Kevin Pietersen
Pietersen really announced himself as an international cricketer early in 2005 when, after a low-key introduction in Zimbabwe, he was selected for England's one-day series in South Africa, which KP had left under something of a cloud, muttering about the quota system. The crowd gave him the bird, once standing en masse and turning away from him... but Pietersen didn't seem to care, thrashing superb hundreds in the second, fifth and seventh matches, the middle one coming up in only 69 balls. He has now made three memorable Test centuries against them, too.
Pietersen really announced himself as an international cricketer early in 2005 when, after a low-key introduction in Zimbabwe, he was selected for England's one-day series in South Africa, which KP had left under something of a cloud, muttering about the quota system. The crowd gave him the bird, once standing en masse and turning away from him... but Pietersen didn't seem to care, thrashing superb hundreds in the second, fifth and seventh matches, the middle one coming up in only 69 balls. He has now made three memorable Test centuries against them, too.
Lisa Sthalekar
Australia's long-serving allrounder, Sthalekar was actually born in Pune, and produced her highest score in 125 one-day internationals - an innings of 104 not out in Sydney in November 2008 - against India. "Shaker" also scored 55 as Australia beat India in the 2005 World Cup final in Centurion.
Australia's long-serving allrounder, Sthalekar was actually born in Pune, and produced her highest score in 125 one-day internationals - an innings of 104 not out in Sydney in November 2008 - against India. "Shaker" also scored 55 as Australia beat India in the 2005 World Cup final in Centurion.
Andy Flower
The man who's now England's coach was such a pillar of Zimbabwe cricket that it's easy to forget he was actually born over the border in South Africa (unlike brother Grant, who was born in Harare). And in Harare in September 2001 the older Flower seemed to be playing the bullying neighbours on his own: he followed 142 with an epic 199 not out in the second innings.
The man who's now England's coach was such a pillar of Zimbabwe cricket that it's easy to forget he was actually born over the border in South Africa (unlike brother Grant, who was born in Harare). And in Harare in September 2001 the older Flower seemed to be playing the bullying neighbours on his own: he followed 142 with an epic 199 not out in the second innings.
Courtney Browne
The only West Indian Test cricketer born in England, wicketkeeper Courtney Browne - who first saw the light of day just round the corner in Lambeth - was one of the late-night late-order batting heroes as West Indies ended a long fallow period with victory over England in the dark in the 2004 Champions Trophy final at The Oval.
The only West Indian Test cricketer born in England, wicketkeeper Courtney Browne - who first saw the light of day just round the corner in Lambeth - was one of the late-night late-order batting heroes as West Indies ended a long fallow period with victory over England in the dark in the 2004 Champions Trophy final at The Oval.
Pakistan 1952-53
All Pakistan's players in their second-ever Test, against India in Lucknow in October 1952, were perforce all born in what was then India, as Pakistan only came into existence five years before the match. They had lost their first Test by an innings, but bounced back spectacularly to do the same to a shocked Indian side. Fazal Mahmood, who nearly toured Australia with India in 1947-48, took 12 for 94 in the match. AH Kardar, Pakistan's captain, had played for India, in England in 1946.
All Pakistan's players in their second-ever Test, against India in Lucknow in October 1952, were perforce all born in what was then India, as Pakistan only came into existence five years before the match. They had lost their first Test by an innings, but bounced back spectacularly to do the same to a shocked Indian side. Fazal Mahmood, who nearly toured Australia with India in 1947-48, took 12 for 94 in the match. AH Kardar, Pakistan's captain, had played for India, in England in 1946.
Boyd Rankin
The lanky Londonderry-born fast bowler Boyd Rankin took 43 wickets in 37 one-day internationals for Ireland. But his best bowling figures to date came in his first match for England, in September 2013... against Ireland in Dublin, in the same match in which England's other Irishman, Eoin Morgan, scored a century (see above).
The lanky Londonderry-born fast bowler Boyd Rankin took 43 wickets in 37 one-day internationals for Ireland. But his best bowling figures to date came in his first match for England, in September 2013... against Ireland in Dublin, in the same match in which England's other Irishman, Eoin Morgan, scored a century (see above).
Devon Malcolm
Short-sighted but scarily fast, Devon Malcolm is best remembered for a stunning burst of 9 for 57 for England against South Africa at The Oval in 1994, after being clonked on the head while batting. But early in 1990 Malcolm, who was born in Jamaica, took 10 for 137 in a match against West Indies in Port-of-Spain, which England would probably have won but for bad light. Gladstone Small, born in Barbados, took three wickets in that match too.
Short-sighted but scarily fast, Devon Malcolm is best remembered for a stunning burst of 9 for 57 for England against South Africa at The Oval in 1994, after being clonked on the head while batting. But early in 1990 Malcolm, who was born in Jamaica, took 10 for 137 in a match against West Indies in Port-of-Spain, which England would probably have won but for bad light. Gladstone Small, born in Barbados, took three wickets in that match too.
Steven Lynch is the editor of the Wisden Guide to International Cricket 2013.