5 greatest cricketers of Indian origin who played for other teams

With Boyd Rankin turning out for England in hopes of playing Test cricket in August this year, the focus of cricket lovers around the world shifted to the various occurrences where a player has gone on to represent a different nation other than the country of his birth.

Kepler Wessels, the Australian opener, ended up leading South Africa, where he was born, in the 1992 World Cup at the end of the apartheid regime.

Robin Jackman, familiar in Indian circles for his witty commentary, plied his trade for England despite being born in India. And Anderson Cummins represented both the West Indies and Canada in his time.

What makes such players leave those familial environments and go on to represent another land with pride and distinction?

For Kevin Pietersen, it was the prevalent racial quota system in SA that prompted him to shift base to England. The quest for the Holy Grail – playing Test cricket – drove Eoin Morgan to chuck playing for Ireland and throw in his lot with the British.

Money is another reason, though it is not as powerful as others. Some have achieved the success they dreamed of, while quite a few others have fallen by the wayside.

Here is a list of five great cricketers of Indian origin, who went on to have glittering careers for other nations:

5. Nasser Hussain (England)

Nasser Hussain setting the field in a Test match

One of the finest captains that England have ever had, Nasser Hussain, also known as Nashwan, was born in Madras (now Chennai) to an Indian Muslim father, Jawad (Joe) and an English mother. Joe had played first-class cricket for Tamil Nadu, and later moved with his family to Essex when Nasser was seven.

A talented leg-spin bowler, Hussain played alongside future England colleague and captain Mike Atherton during their school days, and after a growth spurt, switched his focus to batting.

He went on to establish himself at No.3 in the Test squad – a position that had long given the selectors plenty of migraines, and took over the captaincy from Alec Stewart in 1999, turning around the fortunes of the side with his imaginative field placements and lively approach to the leadership position.

Along with former greats Bob Willis, David Gower, Ian Botham and David Lloyd, Hussain joined the Sky Sports commentary team after his retirement, and also coaches at an independent school in Essex.