Grant Elliott

Grant David Elliott (born 21 March 1979) is a former New Zealand cricketer, who played all formats of the game. Primarily a batting all-rounder, Elliott contributed a man of the match performance to provide entrance to New Zealand's first ever World Cup final, by beating South Africa in 2015. Domestically, he played for the Wellington Firebirds.

Grant Elliott

Elliott in 2018
Personal information
Full name	Grant David Elliott
Born	21 March 1979 Johannesburg, Transvaal Province, South Africa
Nickname	Shunt, Magic, Hairy Javelin
Height	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Batting	Right-handed
Bowling	Right-arm medium, occasional off spin and leg spin
Role	All-rounder
International information
National sides	New Zealand (2008–2016) World XI (2017)
Test debut (cap 236)	22 March 2008  New Zealand v England
Last Test	3 December 2009  New Zealand v Pakistan
ODI debut (cap 150)	18 June 2008  New Zealand v England
Last ODI	8 February 2016  New Zealand v Australia
ODI shirt no.	88
T20I debut (cap 36)	15 February 2009  New Zealand v Australia
Last T20I	12 September 2017  World XI v Pakistan
Domestic team information
Years	Team
1996/97	Transvaal B
1998/99; 2002/03	Gauteng
1999/00–2000/01	Griqualand West
2005/06–2016/17	Wellington (squad no. 44)
2009	Surrey
2015	Leicestershire
2016	Quetta Gladiators
2016	St Lucia Zouks
2016	Chittagong Vikings
2017	Lahore Qalandars (squad no. 88)
2017–2018	Warwickshire (squad no. 88)
Career statistics
Competition Test ODI FC LA Matches 5 83 83 211 Runs scored 86 1,976 3,883 5,126 Batting average 10.75 34.06 30.57 33.50 100s/50s 0/0 2/11 8/20 7/28 Top score 25 115 196* 115 Balls bowled 282 1,302 7,216 4,827 Wickets 4 39 92 130 Bowling average 35.00 30.23 36.71 33.36 5 wickets in innings 0 0 1 1 10 wickets in match 0 0 0 0 Best bowling 2/8 4/31 5/33 5/34 Catches/stumpings 2/– 17/– 46/– 70/–
Source: Cricinfo, 13 January 2019

In March 2017, he announced his retirement from international cricket[1] and in August 2018, he retired from all forms of cricket.[2][3]

Early life

The son of a South African plastic surgeon, Grant Elliott attended St Stithians College,[4] whose notable cricketing alumni include Michael Lumb, Roy Pienaar, David Terbrugge, Dave Rundle and Kagiso Rabada.

South Africa

He debuted with 67 in 1996–97 at Gauteng, where on the advice of his captain, former New Zealand test skipper Ken Rutherford, who saw the quota system possibly blocking his path to higher honours, Elliott left his native Johannesburg for New Zealand in 2001.[5] He played one match for South Africa 'A' against India 'A' before he qualified to play for New Zealand in 2007.

International career

Called up to the national team in early 2008 during England's tour, he made his Test debut against England in the third test in Napier replacing Jacob Oram.[6]

Elliott has gone on to also make his ODI debut for New Zealand against England taking 3 wickets. In his second game he scored his maiden ODI 50. His maiden ODI century was in the 3rd game of the Chappell-Hadlee series scoring 115 against Australia at the SCG on Sunday 8 February 2009.

He also did well in the Champions trophy in South Africa in 2009 as he took a four wicket haul against England at the Wanderers which actually helped New Zealand to qualify for the semifinals and in the semifinals he played an innings of 75 not out to take the Black caps to victory against Pakistan.

World records

Elliott scored his second ODI century when Sri Lanka toured New Zealand prior to the 2015 Cricket World Cup. Elliott and Luke Ronchi both broke several batting records as the pair lifted New Zealand from 93/5 to a commanding 360 off their 50 overs. Their stand of 267* is the highest 6th wicket partnership in ODIs.[7]

In the inaugural Pakistan Super League in 2016 he along with Zulfiqar Babar set the highest 10th wicket partnership in any forms of T20 (63).[8][9]

2015 World Cup

His finest moment however came in the 2015 World Cup Semi final against South Africa where he scored an unbeaten 84 and was adjudged the Man of the Match.[10] He hit the winning six off the second to last ball of the innings from Dale Steyn and created history by putting New Zealand into their first ever Cricket World Cup Final. In the final against Australia, Elliot top-scored for New Zealand, scoring 83 runs.[11]

After the World Cup, Elliott was named in the Twenty20 side in 2016 after suffering an arm injury playing domestically for Wellington.

In April 2016, Elliott announced his retirement from ODI cricket.[12]

In August 2017, he was named in a World XI side to play three Twenty20 International matches against Pakistan in the 2017 Independence Cup in Lahore.[13]

Strengths

Early on, Ken Rutherford noted his strong batting technique while also noting his occasional lack of self-belief. Former coach of the Wellington Firebirds, Anthony Stuart, commented that was "a tough cookie", and praised his commitment and high work ethic. Glenn Turner, former convener of the national selection panel, considered Elliott a "thoughtful character" whose offside play was exceptional, such as his hallmark shot, the lofted drive over extra cover.[5]

Other

He played for Weybridge Cricket Club in the Surrey Championship in 2008.

Elliott is the maker of the Buzz Cricket Bat. It is used by himself, Dewayne Bowden, Mark Houghton, Leighton Morgan, Chris Nevin and Luke Woodcock.[5] Luke Woodcock scored 220 with it in a first-class game. Since he has been injured he has worked with Sky Sport in the 2010 HRV Cup.

In 2015 Elliott worked part-time as a business development manager.[14]

Now works full-time for cricHQ as a General Manager.[15]

References

1. "Elliott signs Birmingham Kolpak deal and calls time on NZ". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 29 March 2017.
2. "Elliott retires from all forms of cricket". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 22 August 2018.
3. "New Zealand's CWC 2015 hero Grant Elliott calls it quits". International Cricket Council. Retrieved 22 August 2018.
4. Grant Elliott at ESPNcricinfo Retrieved 2008-10-23
5. Millmow, Jonathan (9 February 2009). "Black Cap Grant Elliott creates a buzz". The Dominion Post. Retrieved 24 January 2015.
6. Kiwis turn to all-rounder Elliot BBC News retrieved 1 March 2008
7. "Ronchi, Elliott shatter records and flatten Sri Lanka". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 23 January 2015.
8. "17th Match: Quetta Gladiators v Peshawar Zalmi at Sharjah, Feb 14, 2016 | Cricket Scorecard | ESPN Cricinfo". Cricinfo. Retrieved 4 May 2017.
9. "Records | Twenty20 matches | Partnership records | Highest partnerships by wicket | ESPN Cricinfo". Cricinfo. Retrieved 4 May 2017.
10. "ICC Cricket World Cup, 1st Semi-Final: New Zealand v South Africa at Auckland, Mar 24, 2015". Retrieved 24 March 2015.
11. http://www.espncricinfo.com/newzealand/engine/match/656495.html
12. "Grant Elliott retires from ODIs". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 1 April 2016.
13. "Faf du Plessis named captain of World XI to travel to Pakistan". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 24 August 2017.
14. "From Beaver to Dreamer: Grant Elliott could be Black Caps' Stephen Donald". stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 5 May 2015.
15. CricHQ. "Captains Report May 2019". about.crichq.com. Retrieved 30 July 2019.

External links

• Grant Elliott on Twitter
• Grant Elliott at ESPNcricinfo
• Grant Elliott at New Zealand Cricket Players Association