5 Prominent English cricketers born in a different country

Cricket history is replete with many players born in one country but played cricket for another nation. They do it either for opportunity or money and sometimes because of family pressure.

Fans love to watch them play and appreciate the talent and uniqueness they bring to the wonderful game of cricket. On that note, there have been a lot of English players born outside England - India, South Africa, West Indies, Australia, and Ireland.

Here, we have discussed five of the prominent ones.

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#1 Kevin Pietersen

Kevin Pietersen was born in South Africa. He raised his objection to the South African racial quota system in cricket, which favoured the players of colour. To show his dissent, he moved to England for better opportunities. Pietersen made his debut with the English side as a right-hand batsman in 2005 against Australia.

He scored 8181 runs in 104 tests at an average of 47.28. Being a destructive batsman, he performed well in ODIs. His tally stood at 4440 runs at an average of 40.73. He invented "Switch-hit", which became controversial and invited anger from cricket community.

Experts called Kevin as "England's greatest modern batsman." A man for all seasons and all formats - Pietersen also played for IPL and other T20 leagues around the world. He was the most expensive player at IPL auction in 2009, at USD 1.55 million. He equalled Vivian Richards' record of reaching 1000 runs in 21 ODI innings.

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#2 Nasser Hussain

England v West Indies - 1st Royal London One Day International

You would be surprised to know that Nasser Hussin was born in Chennai, India. When he was a kid, their family moved back to England. When he was younger, he started as a leg-spin bowler, but his father coerced him to take up batting. Nasser was a delightful right hand-batsman, who scored 5764 runs in 96 tests at an average of 37.18. He was a slip fielder and took 67 catches. Nasser was a Skipper of England from 1999 to 2003. Critics call him the man, who changed the English cricket in the new millennium.

Hussain is now a successful commentator in the game of cricket - one who speaks his mind. As a player, he believed Muralidharan chucked, but could not say so. As a commentator, he did not hesitate in calling out Murali a chuck. He sparred with Ravi Shastri over a remark on India's stance on DRS, which became sensational.

#3 Gladstone Small

Small at the bowling crease

Gladstone was born in Barbados, WI. At 14, he moved to England and applied to play for the English side as a fast bowler. He was selected. Small played 17 tests and took 55 wickets at an average of 34.01. He was a very committed player and bowled deadly outswingers, at a swift pace. He suffered from Klippel-Feil syndrome which meant no neck. However, his medical condition did not hamper his bowling.

A funny incident happened when he was playing against Middlesex. He bowled 10 no balls and a wide ball which meant he bowled 17 bowls to complete the over. He recalls that it became a nightmare to finish that spell.

Post-retirement he has become a motivational speaker and delivers lectures on TV and digital mediums, etc.

#4 Ben Hollioake

Ben Hollioake (right) played for England

Ben Hollioake was born in Australia. He moved to England to play for Surrey in 1996. Ben was a right-hand batsman and right arm pace bowler. He played 2 test, scored 44 runs and took 4 wickets. In ODIs, his tally stood at 309 runs in 20 matches, and he took eight wickets.

Ben and his real brother Adam made their Test debut together in 1997 at Trent Bridge, England. He became one of the youngest cricketers to die in the history of cricket when his sports car Porsche met an accident in 2002.

#5 Eoin Morgan

Eoin smiling for the camera

Eoin Morgan was born in Ireland and played for the nation. He moved to England and played for Middlesex. He debuted against Bangladesh in 2010. Morgan scored 700 runs in 16 tests at an average of 30.43. In ODIs, his aggregate was 6362 runs at an average of 37.64. His entry into English teams has changed the way, England plays ODI. It is more aggressive, win-oriented and positive.

He is a destructive batsman and hence also plays in T20 leagues around the world, including IPL and PSL. This learning has made him a better player.