Zim-born player in NZ T20 squad
Zimbabwe-born cricket all-rounder, Colin de Grandhomme, has turned his back on his country of birth and now looks set to represent New Zealand after being named in the Black Caps Twenty20 squad.
De Grandhomme represented Zimbabwe at the 2004 U-19 Cricket World Cup in Bangladesh together with national team captain Brendan Taylor, Sean Williams and Elton Chigumbura, but felt his future lay outside Zimbabwe.
He also represented the Manicaland side (now Mountaineers) in the 2004-05 season before ascending to Zimbabwe A and Zimbabwe Under-23s, for whom he scored a century against Eastern Province in the SAA Provincial Challenge in South Africa.
His father Laurence played for Zimbabwe before they gained Test status. However, de Grandhomme felt his future lay outside and left Zimbabwe for New Zealand at the end of 2006.
He soon made a mark at Auckland, which is coached by the former national team leg spinner Paul Strang.
In 2008-09, he averaged 54,50 with the bat and 24,19 with the ball as Auckland won the State Championship.
He also represented the Manicaland side (now Mountaineers) in the 2004-05 season before ascending to Zimbabwe A and Zimbabwe Under-23s, for whom he scored a century against Eastern Province in the SAA Provincial Challenge in South Africa.
His father Laurence played for Zimbabwe before they gained Test status. However, de Grandhomme felt his future lay outside and left Zimbabwe for New Zealand at the end of 2006.
He soon made a mark at Auckland, which is coached by the former national team leg spinner Paul Strang.
In 2008-09, he averaged 54,50 with the bat and 24,19 with the ball as Auckland won the State Championship.
