Tuesday 6 December 2016 14:20, UK
At Euro 2016, we had the unusual sight of Taulant Xhaka of Albania playing against his brother Granit representing Switzerland. Their mother watched from the stands wearing a shirt combining the flags from both countries.
Two years ago the Boateng brothers - albeit half-brothers - competed against each other in the football World Cup, with Jerome going on to win the competition with Germany, after a 2-2 draw with Kevin-Prince's Ghana earlier in the tournament.
Throughout sporting history, relatives have normally played for the same international team, but - as in football - cricket has provided some anomalies…
As the Mumbai Test approaches, Keaton Jennings may well become captain Alastair Cook's 14th different opening partner. After opening in 117 innings with Andrew Strauss, Cook hasn't had a more permanent partner at the top of the order than the 20 occasions he walked out with Alex Hales.
Having entered the Durham academy in 2012 and pledged his future to England, Jennings could end up facing some of his former Under-19 team-mates when South Africa tour next summer.
Keaton's father Ray was unfortunate in that his career pretty much precisely spanned the years of South Africa's sporting isolation. He was a key member of the all-conquering Transvaal side who dominated South African domestic cricket throughout that period, but his only appearances for the full South Africa side came against rebel tourists from England, Australia, Sri Lanka and the West Indies.
By the time his country was restored to Test status he was already 37 and was overlooked in favour of David Richardson. So, with the younger Jennings about to debut for England, let's have a look at which members of the same family have played international cricket for different countries.
George Headley was a pioneer - the first truly great West Indian batsman. He ended with a Test average of more than 60 over his 22 Tests - played mainly between the two World Wars. His son Ron suffered in comparison with his illustrious father, but was an elegant batsman in his own right and good enough to play two Tests for the West Indies on their 1973 tour of England when he was drafted in after an injury crisis.
Ron became a key member of the Worcestershire side who won back-to-back County Championship titles in the 1960s, and it was in that county that his son Dean was born in 1970.
Dean was awarded one of the ECB's first central contracts in 2000 and on his day was as devastating as any seamer in England. Who could forget his match-winning 6-60 at Melbourne in the 1998 Boxing Day Test when he helped bowl England to victory by just 12 runs. It made staying up all night in the Junior Common Room in Hatfield College Durham thoroughly worthwhile.
Back in 2008, Darren Pattinson was plucked from obscurity to debut for England against South Africa at Leeds. Born in Grimsby, he had been brought up in Australia before joining Nottinghamshire and impressing the selectors with a decent early-season haul of wickets. He didn't disgrace himself either, but that was to be his only taste of international cricket. He now trains greyhounds for - among others - Ricky Ponting.
Darren's brother James has had more success in the international arena, but his frequent injuries have threatened to derail his career on more than one occasion. He took a five-wicket haul on his Australian Test debut against New Zealand at Brisbane in 2011, but since then has been plagued by injuries to his foot, side, back and shins, limiting him to just 17 Test appearance so far - in which he has taken a very creditable 70 wickets at just 26.15 apiece.
The Partition of India in 1947 created some other cricketing family anomalies. Wazir Ali represented India and his son Khalid Wazir, Pakistan. Jahangir Khan played for India and son Majid and grandson Bazid both represented Pakistan post-partition. And then there were the Nawab of Pataudis. Senior played for both England and India and junior subsequently captained India.
Albert Trott is best remembered for being the only man to hit a ball over the current Lord's Pavilion. That hit back in 1899 overshadowed some other startling feats. His bowling figures of 8-43 for Australia against England at Adelaide in 1895 are still the best by any player on Test debut.
But having played three Tests for Australia, he changed allegiances to England and played two further matches in 1899 against South Africa - taking 17 wickets. In 1907 he ruined his own benefit match against Somerset by taking four wickets in four balls and then a hat-trick in the same innings to draw proceedings to a premature halt before the crowd could properly assemble and contribute to the coffers.
Albert's brother Harry toured England with Australia on four occasions, captaining the side on the 1896 tour when he struck a memorable 143 in the Lord's Test. But it is his captaincy that he is best remembered for - he was the first captain to realise the benefit of moving fielders and shuffling and rotating bowlers.
There are a few additions to the list when we examine ODI cricket. Don Pringle played for East Africa in the first edition of the ICC Cricket World Cup in 1975. His son Derek - born in Nairobi - played in the 1987 and 1992 tournaments - reaching the final in the latter. Ed Joyce represented both Ireland and England - before returning to Ireland again while his brother Dominick played three ODIs for Ireland in 2006 and 2007.
Boyd Rankin also played for both England and Ireland while younger brother David has played two Twenty20 International matches for Ireland.
However, among the pantheon of cricketing families, pride of place probably has to go to the Hearnes with the Cape Town Test of 1892 providing the undoubted highlight.
Having played two Tests for England in 1889, Frank Hearne was making his debut for South Africa in this match and among the England side were his brothers Alec and George. Furthermore, a cousin Jack was also in the England side. That match proved to be the only taste of Test cricket for Alec and George, but Jack (JT) went on to take more than 3,000 first-class wickets including 49 in 12 Tests.
Ray Jennings may not have played international cricket, but there is no doubt that if and when Keaton makes his debut, their names will be linked with this eclectic and select group of families with distinctly split loyalties.
Watch day one of the fourth Test between India and England, in Mumbai, live on Sky Sports 2 from 3.30am on Thursday.
