Wisden overview
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. Greg Baum

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