There are many players who leave their country of birth and migrate to some other country to fulfil their dream of playing cricket at the highest level. One of the countries where players move to is England because there are a lot of cricketing opportunities in that country. England has a strong domestic circuit and many players move to England to be a part of the County Championship.
But if a player wants to be eligible to play for England then he has to follow some rules. The players need to stay in that country for a certain number of years before they become eligible to play for England. Many players migrate at a very young age and so they become eligible at the right time. So, who are the cricketers who have done this to represent English side? Let’s have a look at five players who left their country and joined the England team.
5. Kevin Pietersen
Kevin Pietersen was born in South Africa to an Afrikaner father and an English mother. He started playing domestic cricket in South Africa in 1997 but then moved to England in 2000. He played county cricket for four years and then he became eligible to play for the England national team.
Pietersen who had scored a lot of runs in the domestic circuit was called up in the English side and he made his ODI debut in 2004. His next ODI series was against South Africa where he received a lot of hate from the crowd. Kevin Pietersen had a successful career in the England team as he represented them in all three formats. He went on to play more than 100 Tests which is a huge achievement. Kevin Pietersen’s career ended on the wrong note as he was dropped from the side due to controversies with the England captain.
4. Jason Roy
Jason Roy is another South African born English cricketer. He was born in South Africa in 1990 and then moved to UK when he was 10 years old. Roy started playing for Surrey in the domestic circuit. He performed well in the white-ball games and hence was called for England’s white-ball side.
Roy who is an aggressive opener has become one of England’s key members in the white-ball formats. He was given a chance in the Test format but couldn’t perform well in the Ashes. Jason Roy will remain key for England in the upcoming T20 World Cup.
3. Chris Jordan
Chris Jordan who was born in Barbados represents England at the international level. Jordan’s parents are from Barbados but his maternal grandparents are British Citizens. Jordan played for Surrey in the county championship and then played for Sussex in the 2013 season. He was eligible to play for West Indies and English side but he chose to play for England.
Jordan has represented England in all three formats but has become more of a T20 specialist. Jordan is the death bowler in the shortest format and will be their go-to bowler in the T20 World Cup.
2. Jofra Archer
Jofra Archer’s story is pretty similar to Chris Jordan’s. In fact, Jordan was influential in bringing Archer to England. Archer who was born in Barbados moved to England in 2016 to play county cricket. He became eligible to play for England after three years as the ECB changed the rule in 2018 and reduced the eligibility period from seven years to three years.
Archer made his debut just before the 2019 World Cup and was also picked in the World Cup. Archer bowled the Super Over in the Final and helped England win the trophy. Archer has become a multi-format player and he is going to remain their main bowler in all three formats.
1. Ben Stokes
Ben Stokes who is the hero of the 2019 World Cup was born in Christchurch in New Zealand. He moved to England when he was just 12 years of age. Ben Stokes who is one of the world’s best all-rounders started playing cricket for Durham at the domestic level.
He made his limited-overs debut in 2011 and made his Test debut in 2013. Ben Stokes is one of the most important players of the England team if not the most important. Stokes is capable of doing unbelievable things and England has got a great player for at least the next 6-7 years.
