Kevin Pietersen may be South African cricket’s most high-profile expatriate talent, but Grant Elliott’s World Cup showstopper left the Proteas once again cursing another of their lost sons.
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Elliott, born in Johannesburg and schooled at the same St Stithians College in the city which also nurtured England’s Cape Town-raised Jonathan Trott, dealt the blow that killed off South Africa’s hopes.
The 36-year-old Elliott, known to teammates as “Shunt” and “Magic”, left his home country in 2001 and seven years later made his Test debut for New Zealand.
WATCH the moment Grant Elliot hit the winning runs: http://t.co/cV4XXDAjeC #NZvSA pic.twitter.com/FqQvAuD43T
— Cricket World Cup (@cricketworldcup) March 24, 2015
His Test career has since stalled but he has thrived in ODIs even if his selection for the World Cup came as a surprise for those expecting the more flamboyant Jimmy Neesham to get the nod.
“I came for a lifestyle change and also for my cricket. As soon as I arrived in New Zealand and made it my home, I had aspirations of playing international cricket for New Zealand,” Elliott revealed.
“It’s a really tough move because you always grow up thinking you’re going to be a Springbok or a Protea.”
Whereas other South Africans have left to pursue international cricket under a different flag because of the quota system in operation, Elliott insists his move to New Zealand was purely contractual.
“I always wanted to play international cricket,” Elliott said. “I wasn’t enjoying my cricket that much there, and I just needed a lifestyle change. I played for Gauteng, I had a contractual dispute with them, so that triggered me to look elsewhere as well.”