BBL draftee de Grandhomme calls time on NZ career

Big-hitting New Zealand allrounder Colin de Grandhomme has retired from international cricket as he seeks late-career runs in domestic T20 competitions.

De Grandhomme was drafted by Jason Gillespie's Adelaide Strikers in the Big Bash League's inaugural overseas player draft on Sunday, surprising Kiwi cricket chiefs and prompting talks on the 36-year-old's career given the BBL season clashes with New Zealand's tour of Pakistan and their own Super Smash T20 tournament.

On Wednesday, New Zealand Cricket (NZC) announced it had agreed to release him from his central contract, bringing the curtain down on his 10-year career with the Black Caps.

"While it's sad to see him go we appreciate he's at a stage in his career where he's looking to head in a different direction and we respect that," coach Gary Stead said.

De Grandhomme follows fellow New Zealand stalwart Trent Boult, cricket's No.1-ranked ODI bowler, who walked away from his central contractearlier this month.

The situation of Boult, who was drafted to Melbourne Stars with pick three on Sunday, is slightly different as NZC have left the door ajar for the 33-year-old to play in the T20 World Cup in Australia later this year.

De Grandhomme won the inaugural World Test Championship final last year with the Black Caps and played in New Zealand's last Test series against England until a heel injury brought an end his tour.

The Zimbabwean-born cult hero last played T20 cricket for New Zealand a year ago and said his struggles with injury and the increasing competition for places in all three formats had played a part in his decision.

"I feel this is the right time to finish," he said.

"I accept I'm not getting any younger and that the training is getting harder, particularly with the injuries.

"I also have a growing family and am trying to understand what my future looks like post-cricket. All of this has been on my mind over the past few weeks.

"I've been fortunate enough to have had the opportunity to play for the Black Caps since debuting in 2012 and I'm proud of my international career.

De Grandhomme amassed 1432 Test runs at 38.70 and took 49 wickets at 32.95 in his 26 Tests, also helping the New Zealand side to the 2019 ODI World Cup final and the world No.1 50-over ranking.

The decision to retire means he is likely to available for the entire KFC BBL|12 season, with availability a key factor in how the draft played out.

"We felt an experienced allrounder was something that could complement our squad so that was the thinking behind Colin de Grandhomme," Gillespie told cricket.com.au on Sunday.

"We've got a couple of young guys in our squad in the middle-order … so we felt (we needed) someone in the middle-order who has done it for a while and can provide a bit of power in the middle to end of the innings.

"We certainly believe de Grandhomme with his experience and power … can really complement the rest of our top-order batting."

Adelaide Strikers BBL|12 squad (so far): Wes Agar, Cameron Boyce, Alex Carey, Harry Conway, Colin de Grandhomme (New Zealand), Ryan Gibson, Travis Head, Adam Hose (England), Henry Hunt, Thomas Kelly, Rashid Khan (Afghanistan), Chris Lynn, Harry Nielsen, Matt Short, Jake Weatherald, Henry Thorton