Kepler Wessels - “Make the bowler earn your wicket and be ruthless when you get a start.”

Dean Tuckwell | March 06, 2023

Speak to Greg Chappell Cricket Centre CEO Greg Tibbits for any longer than 10 minutes and you will hear about the day he knocked over Kepler Wessels, Allan Border and Greg Ritchie in quick succession in a Brisbane 1st grade game for Colts against a star-studded Valleys side. “Chad” and I were teammates that year and didn’t win too many games but may have won that one if Kepler hadn’t already scored 140.

Kepler’s hundred that day just seemed so….inevitable. His Duncan Fearnley Magnum may have taken a unique and circuitous route to meet the ball but once it did it seemed 10 inches wide. It was a flawless display of concentration, shot selection and placement yet I doubt he even remembers it. That it appeared like he was working on a few shots in a throw down session illustrated just how his professionalism and single-mindedness reaped almost 25,000 first class runs at an average of 50 including 66 hundreds, 6 of them in Test matches.

As a young bloke I had been enthralled by World Series Cricket – the theme music, the fast bowlers and the South Africans of whom I knew very little. Richards, Rice, Le Roux and I recall a mate telling me that a bloke named Kepler Wessels was due to open the batting for Australia. Not knowing anything about him or how he came to be there, what was clear was that he immediately belonged as it was when he finally made his Test debut, scoring 162 against England.

He returned to his place of birth to captain South Africa on their return to Test cricket in 1992, leading the side in 16 Tests and to the semi-final of the 1992 World Cup where his team were so cruelly defeated by England, rain and a ludicrous interpretation of rules. 

He has since moved back to Brisbane and is coaching Souths in the Premier Competition as well as operating a specialised personal training business Kepler Wessels Training

You were very successful in a number of sports in your youth. Is cricket the sport in which you were most talented and did it win out because of the love for the game, opportunity or the possibility of making a living?

It came down to a choice between cricket and tennis for me at the age of 16. Hard to say what would have happened if I chose tennis. The fact that I started to play first class cricket at 16 influenced my decision and at that time money was not in the equation. The decision was based on the challenge and my enjoyment of the game.

Who were your childhood heroes?

My childhood heroes were Trevor Goddard, Eddie Barlow and Colin Bland.

Trevor Goddard

What’s the best advice you’ve received?

Once I came to Australia I always relied on the Chappell brothers for advice. There was no one piece of advice that stands out more like the example of striving for excellence they set.

Ian and Greg Chappell

Not many in this country had heard of you before you opened for Australia during World Series Cricket. How did that come about?

I received a contract to play for Sussex in the UK. Tony Greig was the county captain and after a productive season there the offer from WSC came about.

What are your recollections of WSC?

Other than the playing against the West Indies for Australia later on, WSC was the highest level of competition there was. It was extremely aggressive and competitive and I loved every minute of the series.

You had presumably impressed Kerry Packer – did you have a good relationship?

I had no relationship with Kerry Packer. I met him a few times and that was it.

You opened the batting against many of the finest fast bowlers in the history of the game – who were the most challenging and who bowled the quickest spell that you faced?

The West Indies of the eighties presented the toughest challenge of my era and you measured yourself as a player by the success you achieved against their vaunted pace attack. Fortunately for me I found a strategy that worked and ended up probably playing the best cricket of my career against them during the last four Test matches of the 1984 series in Australia*. All their fast bowlers were express pace on their day. I found Joel Garner the hardest to deal with and we had some good battles. I faced so many quick spells during that time it’s hard to single one out.

*despite a poor first Test, Wessels scored over 500 runs at an average of 56

Joel Garner

You’ve had a journeyed career and overcome many obstacles to reach the heights that you did. Of what are you most proud?

I had an unusual career with many different challenges on and off the field. At the end of the day I guess I am most proud of the fact that I feel I maximized the ability that I had.

Can you pinpoint a game where you were the most determined to succeed or impress?

That’s easy. I was close to getting dropped against the West Indies after the first test in Perth so from that moment on motivation and determination to succeed was not an issue.

What’s the best win you’ve been involved with?

Probably the two wins against Australia. The Test match in 1993 in Sydney where we won from an impossible position and the first match of the 1992 World Cup in Sydney when no one gave us a chance of upsetting the Australian team.

South Africa first game in the 1992 World Cup against Australia at the SCG

Dean Jones congratulates Kepler Wessels after South Africa defeated Australia

What do you consider your strengths and how would you plan to structure a test innings?

My strengths have always been my powers of concentration, discipline and work ethic. My batting philosophy was simple - defend the good ball and punish the bad one. Make the bowler earn your wicket and be ruthless when you get a start.

Please tell us about your best knocks?

My three most satisfying knocks were my debut 162 against England at the Gabba, the 173 against the West Indies in Sydney and the century against England at Lords during my last test series.

Kepler Wessels on his way to a century against England at Lords

You have an outstanding club record for Valleys* – how did you approach batting in club cricket?

I approached batting in club cricket like batting in a Shield match. I always tried to keep the intensity up and value grade cricket.

*Wessels scored 2,100 runs in 31 innings at an average of 87 including 9 hundreds

Was the standard of club cricket in South Africa similar?

Club cricket in South Africa was of a similar standard when I played there.

What were the main differences in attitudes and team environment between the Australian and South African teams?

Australian teams and South African teams are similar in attitude. I introduced the same principles into the South African team that I learned in Australia

Kepler Wessels Test debut 162 against England

South Africa’s exile robbed the world of seeing some wonderful cricketers. Who were some of the best that Australians may not know much about?

The best South African players of that era was the Pollock brothers, Eddie Barlow, Barry Richards, Mike Proctor and Colin Bland to name a few.

Eddie Barlow

The gulf in wealth and power of India, England and Australia compared to the other Test playing nations is vast and getting wider. How do you see the future of South African cricket?

South African cricket is experiencing a tough time. It’s difficult to know how things will play out. The talent is certainly there. One hopes they will get back to their former standards.

Who are the three players from your playing days at the top of the list for a Saturday afternoon get together?

I have made many friends throughout my cricketing career so would hate to single out only 3 to have a beer with.

You are currently coaching Souths in the Brisbane premier competition so have an intimate and current knowledge of club cricket. If you were making the decisions, what would be your priorities to ensure Queensland and Australian cricket remained strong and successful on and off the field?

Keep grade cricket strong. It has always been the foundation of strong Australian teams.