5 international cricketers who represented their country in one other sport

Jonhenry Wilson 11 Dec 2024

Jeff Wilson was a Black Cap and an All Black.

Representing your country at international level is an incredible achievement. It means you’re at the very top of your game and it usually comes as a reward for hours of practice and dedication.

From school, through club and provincial, county or state cricket there are thousands of players taking part in the game every day. But only a handful will ever get to represent their country.

Even fewer will get to represent their country in two different codes. Here’s a quick look at a handful of exceptional cricketers, who aside from playing cricket for their country, have also played other sports at international level.

1. Jonty Rhodes (South Africa)

Known for revolutionizing fielding in cricket, Jonty Rhodes also excelled in hockey. He played hockey for his country and was even selected to represent South Africa at the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona.

Sadly, he never made it to the tournament as South Africa ultimately failed to qualify. His agility and athleticism were evident in both sports, making him a standout figure in South African sport in the 1990’s. In total he played 52 Tests and 245 ODI’s for South Africa where he batted in the middle-order and fielded at point.

2. Jeff Wilson (New Zealand)

Nicknamed “Goldie,” Jeff Wilson is one of New Zealand’s greatest dual-code athletes. While he was a prolific rugby union player with 60 caps for the All Blacks, Wilson also represented New Zealand in cricket.

As a pace bowler and handy batsman, he played six one-day internationals before focusing on his rugby career – a move that paid dividends as he played in the final of the 1995 World Cup where the All Blacks were beaten South Africa. Wilson played on the opposite wing to the legendary Jonah Lomu.

3. Ellyse Perry (Australia)

Ellyse Perry is arguably the greatest example of a dual-sport athlete in modern times. She has represented Australia in both cricket and soccer, playing in a Cricket World Cup and a FIFA Women’s World Cup.

Perry’s ability to perform at the highest level in two sports is a testament to her incredible skill and fitness.

4. Rudi van Vuuren (Namibia)

Rudi van Vuuren is the only athlete to compete in both a Cricket World Cup and a Rugby World Cup. Not just that, he played in both World Cups in the same year! Representing Namibia in cricket in 2003, he was also part of the rugby team at the 2003 Rugby World Cup.

His versatility and commitment to excelling in two sports make him a unique figure in international competition – although admittedly he is playing for a minnow team in both codes. When he is not making magic on the sports field, Van Vuuren works fulltime as a physician.

5. Cotar Ramaswami (India)

Cotar Ramaswami is one of India’s earliest dual-sport internationals. He played two Test matches for India in the 1930s and also represented the country in tennis, competing in the Davis Cup. Unlike most athletes who play in two codes, Ramaswami did not indulge in his sports at the same time.

He played tennis as a youngster, representing England in his early twenties before going on to make his Test debut at the age of 40. He played two Tests, against England and averaged 56.66 across his four innings. Curiously, in 1985, at the age of 89, Ramaswami left his home in Madras and simply disappeared. While it seems inevitable that he died, no body was ever found.