Cricketers around the world grow up by the dream of playing at the elite level of Test cricket but the elite status is limited to some well known cricketing countries. Among the players in the history of the game, a large percentage of them are from countries well known in the international circuit.
However, some Test cricketers have first seen the daylight in some of the very unlikely of places. The illustrious history of cricket has seen some cricketers who went on to play at the ultimate stage of the game but were born in courtiers where the game is not very popular.
Most recently in 2013 Moises Henriques made his Test debut for Australia against India at Chennai was born in the city of Funchal, Portugal which is known for producing one Cristiano Ronaldo.
Here we take a look at five countries which have very little to do with professional cricket but is also the birthplace of Test cricketers.
1) Freddie Brown – Peru
The South American nation is certainly not famous for its cricketing antiques but the Peruvian capital city of Lima is the birthplace of former England Captain Freddie Brown. He made his Test debut in 1931 at the Oval against New Zealand.
The all-rounder was in the England’s infamous Bodyline tour of Australia in 1932-33. He also played professional club cricket in England for Cambridge University, Surrey and later for Northamptonshire.
He played 22 Test matches for the Three Lions and was also served as the captain of the team. Brown also scored more than 13,000 runs and over 1,000 wickets in first-class cricket. Brown was named one of the prestigious Wisden Cricketers of the year in 1933.
2) Amjad Khan – Denmark
The leading sport in this Scandinavian nation is the round-ball game, not cricket. The country is also known famous for producing English Premier League winning goalkeepers Peter Schmeichel and Kasper Schmeichel.
The sovereign state registered its connection to Test match cricket in 2009 when Copenhagen-born cricketer Amjad Khan made his Test debut for England against West Indies at the Pot of Spain. He also played a single T20I against the same opposition at the same venue.
The right-arm medium fast bowler played in English county cricket for Sussex. He also played for the Sussex 2nd XI.He picked up 347 wickets in 108 fast-class matches.
3) Buster Nupen – Norway
The European nation has a rich culture of sports. The country is famous for winter sports as well as football. The Norwegian football team has participated in the FIFA World Cup thrice. Popular would be a very strong word for cricket in this country.
However, Buster Nupen, who has represented South Africa in Test cricket was born in the Lusaka, Norway. The all-rounder made his debut for the Proteas in 1921 against Australia at Durban. He played his last international match in 1936 against the same opposition at Johannesburg.
In 17 Test matches, the right-arm pacer has picked up 50 wickets in Test cricket for South Africa including five hauls of five wickets in an innings. He has also contributed at an average of 14.50 with his right-handed batting.
He has more than 300 wickets in fast-class cricket to his name.
4) Ted Dexter – Italy
The European countries identity can be described as one of the most successful in world’s most prestigious sports event of all the Olympics. The country’s national football team the Azzurri is also one of the world’s best teams as it won four FIFA World cups.
Ted Dexter was born in Italy’s second most populated city Milan which is also the fashion capital of the world. Lord Ted of English cricket is remembered as one of the most stylish batsmen who represented the Three Lions’ team in Test cricket. The all-rounder was also the captain of England cricket team. He also played professional club cricket for Cambridge University and Sussex.
He made his debut in 1958 against New Zealand at Manchester. In 62 Test matches, the right-handed batsman has scored 4502 runs at an average of close to 48. He also picked up 66 wickets with his right-arm fast bowling.
In 327 first-class matches, the thoughtful England captain scored more than 12,000 runs and also picked up more than 400 wickets.
5) Ashok Gandotra – Brazil
The country’s national football team is known as the most successful football team in the world as it won five FIFA World Cups. The South American nation has also produced some of the greatest names in football.
Like most of the Latin American region, Brazil is certainly not known for cricket. Though Ashok Gandotra, who represented India in Test cricket was born in Brazil’s capital Rio de Janerio. He made his debut in 1969 against New Zealand at Hyderabad after some impressive performances for Delhi in domestic cricket.
The left-handed batsman only managed to score 54 runs in two Test matches. In first-class cricket, he has scored more than 2,000 runs along with 21 wickets with his left-arm orthodox bowling.
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