In the ever-evolving landscape of international cricket, New Zealand has seen some of its promising talents move on to represent other nations. Moreover, a few cricketers originally from other countries have chosen to wear the Kiwi jersey. In this feature, we’ll introduce you to five notable players who have made this intriguing journey.
1. Luke Georgeson
Luke Georgeson earned his place in this group by representing New Zealand in Under-19 cricket and participating in the 2018 ICC Under-19 World Cup. However, in 2022, he made a pivotal decision to sign a contract with Cricket Ireland. This versatile all-rounder has already featured in 7 T20 matches, scoring 124 runs with a commendable strike rate of 124.00. In the bowling department, he’s contributed with 5 wickets at an economy rate of 7.75.
2. Corey Anderson
Former New Zealand all-rounder Corey Anderson has embarked on a new chapter by joining the American cricket team. He’s eligible to represent the USA in the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup in 2024. Anderson has an impressive track record with the Kiwi team, having played 31 T20 International matches, scoring 485 runs at a stellar strike rate of 127.19. Additionally, he’s taken 14 wickets with an economy rate of 8.25. In ODIs, he’s notched up 1109 runs and captured 60 wickets with an economy rate of 6.07.
3. Luke Ronchi
Luke Ronchi, born in New Zealand, initially donned the Australian jersey before becoming a part of the New Zealand cricket team. His unique distinction lies in representing two different countries. In his international career, this wicketkeeper-batsman played 33 matches, amassing 359 runs with an impressive strike rate of 140.23, including a half-century. Furthermore, he featured in 85 ODIs, accumulating 1397 runs, including a century and four half-centuries.
4. Andy Caddick
Former England fast bowler Andy Caddick, originally hailing from New Zealand, initially played for the New Zealand Under-19 team. However, he eventually sought better opportunities in England. Caddick left his mark in English cricket, claiming 69 wickets in 54 ODI matches at an economy rate of 4.01. In the Test format, he played 62 matches, dismissing 234 batsmen with an average of 29.91.
5. Clary Grimmett
The final entrant on our list is Clary Grimmett, born in New Zealand, who began his cricket journey in his home country but later represented the Australian national team at the international level. Grimmett is renowned for his invention of the flipper delivery. He made his mark in Australian cricket, featuring in 37 Test matches, where he took 216 wickets with an impressive average of 24.21. In his illustrious first-class career, he claimed 1424 wickets in 248 matches.
These players’ decisions to represent different countries underline the global nature of cricket and the diverse opportunities available to exceptional talents in the sport.
