Kepler Wessels is one of the fewest players to have played Test cricket for two different teams. The star player did not just represent Australia and South Africa in Tests but also became the first and only batter to date to have scored over 1000 runs for two teams. Opening the innings, he used to do the hard yards to allow others to get better conditions to bat. He played for Australia in the 1980s.
When South Africa was banned from international cricket in the 1970s and the 1980s due to apartheid, a lot of South African players played county cricket, Sheffield Shield, and other tournaments. Wessels played for Australia and formed the core of the Test team. Some of his greatest career knocks came for Australia. It is time to look at the best Test knocks of the opener for Australia.
3. 162 vs England, Brisbane 1982
Wessels scored a hundred against a good England attack in the home series of 1982/83. The second Test of the series was in Brisbane and England was restricted to a score of 219 runs in the first innings. Australia had to get a good start to get a lead. Wessels provided exactly that on a tricky wicket despite an early collapse at the other end.
Australia lost the big wickets of John Dyson and Allan Border early. But Kepler batted very well. Against an attack consisting of Bob Willis, Ian Botham, Edward Hemmings, Geoff Miller, and Norman Cowans, Kepler registered a great ton. He scored 162(343) and ensured that Australia managed 341 in their first innings. Chasing 188 in the 2nd innings, Kepler helped Australia with a timely 46 to win them the Test.
2. 170 vs Pakistan, Adelaide 1983
Kepler registered his career-best score against Pakistan in the third Test of the 1983 tour. The Southpaw smashed 179 runs in just 233 balls in the third Test of the series against Pakistan in Adelaide. Batting first, Australia posted a total of 465 runs. Against a bowling lineup consisting of Abdul Qadir, Sarfraz Nawaz, Azeem Hafiz, and Co, the star batter scored a quick hundred.
Pakistan replied with a massive score of 624 runs with three batters registering hundreds (Mohsin Khan, Qasim Omar, and Javed Miandad). On a wicket that probably did not have much for the bowlers, both teams salvaged a draw. Wessels was the highest scorer for Australia in the first innings. The him side drew the match and won the series.
1. 173 vs West Indies, Sydney 1984
It was the fifth Test of the series between Australia and West Indies in Sydney. Australia batted first and posted a good total of 471 runs on the board. Wessels batted at 3 and smacked 173 runs in 352 balls. His innings included 14 boundaries and a lot of running between the wickets. It was a great knock considering the bowling attack.
The West Indian attack featured the likes of Michael Holding, Malcolm Marshall, Joel Garner, and Courtney Walsh. The mammoth score of Australia in the first innings proved to be too good. They restricted WI to 163 in the first innings and inflicted a follow-on. As the visiting side managed just 253, Australia won the match by an innings and 55 runs.
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