Full name Kepler Christoffel Wessels

Born September 14, 1957, Bloemfontein, Orange Free State

Current age 51 years 300 days

Major teams Australia, South Africa, Eastern Province, Griqualand West, Northern Transvaal, Orange Free State, Queensland, Sussex, Western Province

Batting style Left-hand bat

Other Coach

Relation Son - MH Wessels

Kepler Wessels was a cricket itinerant and boxing aficionado who, before opening for Australia for four years, played in his native South Africa, in England and in World Series Cricket. He subsequently played for an Australian rebel team in South Africa, and then became SA's first Test captain of the modern era. A fit, lean, brave and slightly ungainly left-hand bat, he made 162 on debut for Australia and averaged 56 in a series against West Indies, no mean feat then. A seemingly severe man, Wessels enjoyed only qualified popularity among Australians, who were unsurprised to see him return to South Africa, but with an average of 43 in 24 Tests, he did give Australia stout service at a difficult time. He went into coaching after retiring, and while he was initially successful at Northants, he found it hard to drive a side operating on a shoestring and he left by mutual consent midway through the 2006 season.
Greg Baum

Wisden Cricketer of the Year 1995

Feb 23, 2007

Kepler Wessels and Mike Procter

© Getty Images

Apr 28, 2005

Kepler Wessels portrait, 2005

© Pete Norton

1996

Kepler Wessels

© Getty Images

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