Grant Elliott Signs Kolpak Deal, Calls Time On His International Career 1

The New Zealand all-rounder Grant Elliott has called time on his international career as he has signed the Kolpak deal with Birmingham Bears, for the Natwest Blast. The 38-year-old all-rounder will join his former teammates Jeetan Patel and Colin de Grandhomme in the team.

Elliot, who is still remembered for his heroics in the semi-final of the 2015 World Cup against his native South African team, has already announced his retirement from ODIs last year and is not a member of the T20I side as well. So, him taking the Kolpak route is not surprising and Board wouldn’t consider it as an opportunity which has slipped from their hands.

Ashley Giles, the Warwickshire’s director of sport said,

“Grant has proven himself as a match-winner on the biggest stage. He top scored in the final and semi-final of the ICC Cricket World Cup in 2015 and he has a wealth of T20 experience, having played in several of the world’s leading competitions.

“Securing Grant, and the earlier addition of Colin de Grandhomme, gives us the additional batting firepower that we wanted to complement a strong top order. He also gives us even more options with the ball and has good experience of English conditions.

“As a teammate of Jeetan, we know that Grant has great character and he will play an important role in developing the younger members of the squad. He will be a proud Bear and we look forward to welcoming him to Edgbaston in July.”

The decision was announced by Elliot himself as he took to twitter to made this news public as he tweeted –

Elliot, in his nine years of international career, played a total of five Tests, 83 ODIs and 16 T20Is for New Zealand. He may not be tagged as a legendary player for the Kiwis but will always be remembered for taking his team to the finals of 2015 World Cup final in the final over of the innings of the semi-final game.