15 Facts about Colin de Grandhomme - The new record holder in New Zealand cricket

Colin de Grandhomme made the news when he scalped a brilliant 6 wicket haul on his Test debut. Playing against Pakistan in his maiden Test, de Grandhomme was absolutely unplayable in the first innings of the visitors. He looked threatening in his approach and looks like a good prospect for New Zealand in the format. With his batting credentials yet to be discovered by the cricket world, it will be interesting to see how he shapes up in future.

Grandhomme has a deep connection with the game of cricket. It would not be wrong to say that cricket has been running in his blood. However, being on the higher side of the age bar, his career might not have as many highlights as a 20-year old debutant will have. But he can surely impress nonetheless in the opportunities that he bags. Here are some facts about Colin de Grandhomme.

1. Roots and beginnings

Colin de Grandhomme was born on 22 July 1986 at Harare in Zimbabwe. He is the son of former Zimbabwean cricketer Laurence de Grandhomme. His great uncle HL de Grandhomme had played for Rhodesia in the 1940s. His father represented Zimbabwe when they were not having a Test status.

2. Early days in Zimbabwe

He started his cricket career while playing in the age group levels in Zimbabwe. He was soon named in the Zimbabwe U19 team for the ICC World Cup 2004. He played 6 matches for the Zimbabwe U119 team.

3. List A debut – Missed out on a century

He made his List A debut for Manicaland in 2004 against Namibia at Harare. He opened the innings and scored an unbeaten 96 to see his team register an 8-wicket win.

4. First Class debut

He started off as a batsman and was named in the Zimbabwe A team as a specialist batsman. He made his First-Class debut against Kenya in 2005 at Harare. He had a quiet debut as he scored just 18 and 0 in two innings.

5. The big switch

It was in 2006 when he decided to move to New Zealand in search of better playing opportunities. He soon found himself playing for different clubs in New Zealand before making it to the Auckland side.

6. Breakthrough season

It was the 2008-09 season that saw Colin de Grandhomme flourish in the domestic circuit. He averaged 55 with the bat and close to 24 with the ball. His heroics saw Auckland win the State Championship that year.

7. Part of the emerging team

His stellar show in the domestic circuit saw him earn a place in the emerging players team for the tour to Australia in 2009. He performed well but could not back it up with good performances in the subsequent domestic season.

8. Earning the reputation of a big hitter and a disappointing T20I debut

Colin de Grandhomme steadily earned the reputation of being a big hitter in New Zealand domestic circuit. His hard hitting credentials saw him feature in 4 T20Is for New Zealand in 2012. However, he could manage just 13 runs in those 4 matches.

9. Making it to the ODI side

He played his first ODI against South Africa in 2012 at Auckland. Coming in to bat at number 6, he scored 36 off 36 balls before being run out.

10. Consistency at its very best

Colin de Grandhomme has the distinction of scoring in excess of 600 runs in a domestic season in New Zealand on three occasions.

11. One for the big chase

He helped Auckland chase down 373 in the fourth innings of the domestic game with a brilliant century. He piled on an unbeaten 144 off just 147 balls to see Auckland emerge victorious in 2016. It was this performance that earned him the national call up yet again.

12. The sensational debut

He made his debut against Pakistan in the first Test of Pakistan’s tour to New Zealand in 2016. He delivered the goods and broke into the record books, not with the bat but with the ball. With figures of 6/41, he registered the best figures by a Kiwi bowler on Test debut and broke a 65-year old record.

13. The premier league connect

He played for the Nagenahira Nagas in the Sri Lankan Premier League in 2012.

14. Major teams

Colin de Grandhomme has the distinction of representing various teams across borders in his career thus far. The major teams that he had played for are New Zealand, Auckland, Manicaland, Nagenahira Nagas, New Zealand A, Zimbabwe Under-19s.

15. Best season thus far

His best season in First Class cricket was in 2013-14. He amassed 629 runs to go with a tally of 30 wickets in 10 matches.