Black Caps all-rounder calls it quits

South African-born New Zealand all-rounder Grant Elliott has retired from all forms of cricket.
Elliott played 17 T20Is, 83 ODIs and five Tests between 2008 and 2016 – and famously starred against his country of birth in the 2015 World Cup semi-final.
On that fateful day for the Proteas, the cool, calm and collected Elliott carried the Black Caps from a precarious 149 for four to a triumphant 299 for six in the rain-affected fixture in Auckland.
“I remember being 12 and writing down my life goals. To play in a World Cup, play international cricket and play county cricket – 27 years on and I have loved every minute of it,” Elliott wrote on Instagram.
“Thanks to all the memorable people I have met that have made this journey special. This game is a special one, but it doesn’t define us. Looking forward to the future with great excitement and sharing a drink with those selfless players I shared the changeroom with.”
A veritable journeyman, Elliott played Twenty20 cricket for the Quetta Gladiators in the Bangladesh Premier League, Lahore Qalandars in the Pakistan Super League and St Lucia Zouks in the Caribbean Premier League. Surprisingly, he never represented an Indian Premier League franchise.
His South African roots, of course, were with Gauteng and Griqualand West – and his professional career ended with the Birmingham Bears in the Vitality Blast last week.
New Zealand have fielded several other South African-born cricketers in recent years, most notably Durban’s BJ Watling and Pretoria’s Neil Wagner. Cape Town’s Michael Rippon, who has played ODI and T20I cricket for the Netherlands, is pursuing a Black Caps career, too.
Latest
-
News
Olly Stone hopes to play a role in an England pace trio during this year’s Ashes
Stone hopes to play a role this summer along with Jofra Archer and Mark Wood.
-
News
Olly Stone ready for whatever role is required to make England World Cup squad
‘Any way in the England team, I’ll snap someone’s hand off,’ said Stone.
-
Women's Cricket
Dane van Niekerk ‘absolutely broken’ to miss World Cup over fitness standards
The South Africa captain was unable to complete a two-kilometre run in the minimum required time.
-
England
Run of defeats has not damaged England’s confidence, insists Moeen Ali
The all-rounder is confident England will be in good shape for the defence of their World Cup crown.
-
County Cricket
Lancashire sign New Zealand pair Daryl Mitchell and Colin de Grandhomme
The all-rounders will be available to play in the LV= Insurance County Championship and Vitality T20 Blast throughout the season.
-
England
Jos Buttler admits he needs to find his rhythm as England lose to South Africa
The hosts won the second ODI by five wickets to clinch the series in Bloemfontein.
-
South Africa
Temba Bavuma hits hundred as South Africa secure ODI series win over England
The Proteas chased down 343 at Bloemfontein to go 2-0 up in the three-match series.
-
England
Jos Buttler and Harry Brook give England hope of levelling ODI series
England reached 342 for seven against South Africa, with Buttler making 94 and Brook 80.
-
England
Jason Roy was never ready to ‘roll over’ despite year of setbacks and low points
Roy has for so long been England’s pacesetter at the top of the order but lost his place in the side.
-
England
England batter Jason Roy emotional after return to form in South Africa defeat
Roy’s slump with the bat led to him being dropped ahead of England’s T20 World Cup-winning campaign last year.