A Big Man whose international retirement casts a long shadow

Colin de Grandomme sporting his mullet 

Some players are just popular. Not necessarily the greatest, or the finest exponents of their craft, but they have a combination of sometimes intangible factors that bring a smile to the face. Their presence simply improves the mood and they win more than they lose too.

Zimbabwe-born Colin de Grandhomme has just announced his retirement from international cricket and is just such a player. A scorer of lower middle order runs and taker of wickets with bowling that can look deceptively gentle, he has also been owner of a fabulous mullet that actually looked okay and has initials that sound like an airport. 

The Big Man plays the saviour

Aptly named, the Big Man was always noticeable when playing for the Blackcaps. Even when merely grazing in the outfield, he cast a large shadow that always carried a sense of impending drama. 

At 36, de Grandhomme has chosen to prioritise his BBL opportunity as a ‘gold’ selection for the Adelaide Strikers. This decision follows Trent Boult's release from his New Zealand central contract to allow him to focus on playing in the lucrative Twenty20 leagues around the world.  

Very much in character, de Grandhomme’s final Test was at Lords against England in June. Whilst, as ever, containing drama and entertainment in equal measure, perhaps the triple whammy of misfortune he suffered in that match will have played a part in the decision to prioritise his BBL opportunity with Adelaide Strikers.

de Grandhomme in New Zealand colours

Having rescued New Zealand’s first innings by top-scoring with an unbeaten 42, his wheels then fell off in a grand manner. In the second innings, England appealed for a daft LBW from his very first ball, Colin wandered absent-mindedly from his crease and Ollie Pope flung down his stumps. 

This was the start of an England team hat-trick and a Kiwi collapse. With the ball, he had bowled Stokes who was about to climb the pavilion steps, taking with him England hopes, when the third umpire revealed that CDG had overstepped. Back walked Stokes to relieved cheers and his subsequent 54 set England on the road to their five - wicket win. And then came the coup de grâce for Colin (or the cdg for CDG if you prefer) when having pulled out of his run up with a heel injury that forced him off the field, it transpired that his series and as we now know, his international career, was finished. 

It runs in the blood

For his pure entertainment value and unstinting commitment to the New Zealand cause, Colin de Grandhomme deserved a better international farewell. Born to be a versatile international cricketer, his late father Laurence Leonard played for Zimbabwe and his great uncle before him had represented Rhodesia. Both had more than one string to their bow as bowlers of off-spin and medium pace as well as batting. 

CDG in action

After leaving Zimbabwe for Auckland in 2006, Colin continually impressed in New Zealand domestic cricket and forced his way into the national side in 2012 in a T20I against his native Zimbabwe. Test recognition took a while longer, but when it came, it was inevitably spectacular. His 6 for 41 against Pakistan on a lively Christchurch pitch were the best ever figures for a New Zealand debutant, bettering a 65-year-old record. A helpful pitch or not, Azhar Ali and Babar Azam were high quality scalps to start a collection of 49 Test wickets at a decent 33. 

His first Test century came against West Indies in December 2017 and although he had to wait until February this year to make his second, a belligerent 120 not out to hold together New Zealand’s first innings against South Africa in Christchurch, a batting average of 38.7 is a fine return from forty-four Test Innings. 

CDG's stint in white-ball cricket

With the white ball, he played a significant role in the 2019 World Cup, making a brilliant 47-ball 60 in a nail-biting winning chase against South Africa and 64 against Pakistan. In the extraordinary final against England, he was at his niggly but effective best, bowling a vital spell that took 1 for 25 from 10 overs including the prized wicket of Joe Root. Others may stay more in the memory from that day and the ‘barest of margins’ defeat will forever rankle for all Kiwis, but CDG stood up when needed to deliver his side's most effective bowling figures and force that ultimately unsuccessful super over. 

Farewell de Grandhomme

Colin de Grandhomme in the Blackcaps Test team 

In the words of Black Cap Coach Colin Stead, de Grandhomme was “a big part of a very successful era for New Zealand Cricket”, one that was crowned with the ICC World Test Championship lets not forget, with de Grandhomme part of that final team. 

Adelaide Strikers will enjoy having The Big Man in their ranks. It won’t be dull, with or without the mullet. International cricket is poorer, but will remember Colin fondly, with respect and with a smile. 

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