NZC confident player exodus not on cards, despite Colin de Grandhomme's retirement 

Colin de Grandhomme leaves the international arena. (PC- Twitter) 

New Zealand Cricket (NZC) insist that Colin de Grandhomme's surprise retirement from the international arena to play in the Australian Big Bash League (BBL) will not prompt other players to follow the same route in the future. 

The New Zealand allrounder announced on Wednesday that he is retiring from international cricket after playing 29 Tests, 45 ODIs, and 41 T20 internationals for the Kiwis.

De Grandhomme was one of 19 centrally contracted men’s players with New Zealand Cricket for the 2022/23 season. This is the second case of a player exiting the central contract following Trent Boult’s release.

In the inaugural international player draft of the BBL, Adelaide Strikers secured the services of the retired Kiwi cricketer.

The exit from the contract ensures that the 36-year-old Zimbabwe-born cricketer will be available for other ventures, which include playing T20 cricket for Adelaide Strikers in the Australian Big Bash League.

Speaking on Grandhomme's retirement and its impact on other players in the circuit, NZC general manager of high-performance Bryan Stronach said the board understands the reasons behind Colin's retirement.

"We understand the reasons why Colin's putting his name in the hat, and taking this line and retiring from international cricket," NZC general manager of high-performance Bryan Stronach was quoted as saying by Radio New Zealand on Wednesday.

Stronach further said that NZC is adamant these recent departures won't open the floodgates for other players to flow through.

"I don't think there will be a mass exodus. We're pretty confident in our environment and how we're pretty adaptive in how we work with those players," NZC's high-performance general manager Bryan Stronach.

"A lot of the time they do get to go and do things like the IPL and other leagues and still play for their country but we do understand it's different for different individuals." 

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