Australian Players Who Switched To Another Team After Playing For Australia, Ft. Moises Henriques

Australia cricketers who switched teams [Source: @mufaddal_vohra/x]

Representing more than one nation in international cricket remains a rare feat, often made possible by changing eligibility rules, birthplace or heritage. World heavyweights Australia have also seen a handful of their cricketers migrate to other nations for international cricket after wearing the ‘Baggy Green’.

Here is a look at five prominent Australian cricketers who switched international teams after playing for Australia. 

5. Kepler Wessels (Australia and South Africa) 

Umpiring, refereeing, coaching, commentating and of course, playing; Kepler Wessels has pretty much done it all that needs to be done inside a cricket stadium. Moreover, Wessels even represented two different nations during his playing days.

The top-order batter started off his international career with Australia in the second Test of the 1982 home Ashes against England, and celebrated the occasion with a ‘Player of the Match’ century. 

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After playing 24 Tests and 54 ODIs for Australia up until 1985, Wessels shifted to the nation of his birth, South Africa. He spent the latter half of his international career with the Proteas, playing an additional 16 Tests and 55 ODIs until 1994. 

4. Luke Ronchi (Australia and New Zealand)

Wicketkeeper-batter Luke Ronchi became the first player since Kepler Wessels to play international cricket for two full member nations of the ICC. 

Born in Dannevirke in New Zealand, Ronchi made his international debut for Australia during their multi-format tour of the West Indies in 2008. After playing just four ODIs and three T20Is, he shifted back to New Zealand, where he renewed his international career in 2013. 

Ronchi played 81 ODIs and 29 T20Is for New Zealand up until announcing his retirement in 2017. He was also a part of the New Zealand team that reached the final of the 2015 ICC World Cup. Incidentally, the ‘Black Caps’ lost the big final to Australia. 

3. Ryan Campbell (Australia and Hong Kong)

Ryan Campbell played just two ODIs for Australia, both during his debut international year of 2002. Underwhelming returns prompted the Perth-born cricketer to return to domestic cricket for his home state, Western Australia. 

A few years later, Campbell seemingly gave up on his Australian ambitions and, after meeting the residency qualification, found an opportunity in Hong Kong over a decade later. The cricketer also shared his ancestry with the region through his grandmother. 

He was selected in the Hong Kong squad for the 2016 T20 World Cup in India at the age of 44. He played three T20Is for his new team, all during the tournament, to become the oldest player to make his T20I debut at the time.  

2. Joe Burns (Australia and Italy)

Joe Burns, born in Queensland, sporadically played for Australia between the years 2014 and 2020. As a tribute to his late brother, Burns announced his move to Italy in May 2024. 

Under his experienced leadership, the Italy cricket team scripted history by qualifying for the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in India. However, the cricketer was dropped just before the tournament owing to his creative differences with the Italian Cricket Federation. 

Overall, the 36-year-old played eight T20Is in his career, all for Italy to add to his 23 Tests and six ODIs for Australia. 

1. Moises Henriques (Australia and Portugal)

Star all-rounder Moises Henriques is the first cricketer to be born in Portugal who went on to play for Australia in international cricket. He made his debut in 2009 and represented the nation in four Tests, 16 ODIs and 24 T20Is, all sporadically up until 2021. 

Owing to some stiff competition from fellow all-rounders like Marcus Stoinis, Mitchell Marsh and James Faulkner, Henriques struggled to cement his place in the national set-up despite being a formidable force in BBL and other Australian domestic competitions.

The son of a former Portuguese professional footballer, Moises confirmed in an interview in early 2026 that he will be switching to the nation of his birth for the 2028 T20 World Cup Qualifiers. As of now, it remains to be seen when the seasoned pro will don Portugal’s colours for the first time.

Other players who switched teams after playing for Australia

As many as five more players switched teams after playing for Australia. Incidentally, all five of those Australian players shifted to England and played Test cricket, all during the late 19th century.

The players are Billy Midwinter, Billy Murdoch, J. J. Ferris, Sammy Woods and Albert Trott.

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