Grant Elliot Hints at Retiring from Competitive Cricket

Grant Elliot has hinted at a possible retirement from competitive cricket following Birmingham Bears’ failure to progress to the quarter-finals of the T20 Blast.

Meanwhile, Elliot, a former New Zealand all-rounder retired from international cricket in March 2017. He led Birmingham to Finals Day the same year, but struggled this time around, particularly with the bat.

Grant Elliot managed to score only 80 runs in ten outings with the bat. However, he was impressive with the ball bagging 19 wickets from 14 games at 19.57. Birmingham, however, ended their campaign with a 15-run loss to Worcestershire. They finished sixth on the north group table, six points off first-placed Worcestershire.

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Speaking after the game, Grant Elliot admitted he would be available for ice cricket and those sorts of things. However, he is looking at something outside the game rather than playing competitive cricket.

“I’ll be open to games in Switzerland, ice cricket and those sorts of things,” Elliott told BBC WM’s Bears Podblast. “But, in terms of competitive cricket and playing for teams around the world, I’m keen on trying to create something outside of the game,” he added.

Grant Elliot’s best innings came during 2015 ICC World Cup semifinal when he struck an unbeaten 84 against South Africa to take his team to the finals. He played over 100 matches – including five Tests – across formats for New Zealand.

However, he had to retire from international cricket to join Birmingham 2017, as a non-overseas player on a kolpak deal. More than the actual matches, Grant Elliott said he missed the dressing room environment.

“I realised why I played the game four years ago,” he said. “It’s a hard game. There’s a lot of pain. But it’s because of the camaraderie and the team elements. I love hanging around with the lads in the changing room, sharing a win. That’s what excites me.

The actual games, I don’t really remember what happens out there. You want to do your best, but the people that you meet in the game is just awesome. A really neat group of elite sportspeople, who can be your mates for life,” he concluded.