Family tragedy for de Grandhomme
The sudden death of allrounder Colin de Grandhomme’s father has opened the door for Doug Bracewell’s first New Zealand cricket international in 16 months.
De Grandhomme boarded a plane yesterday for Zimbabwe after being told of the sudden death of his father Laurence, aged 61. He played 16 first-class matches for Zimbabwe in the 1980s.
‘‘It’s terrible circumstances and our thoughts go out to him and his family,’’ said Black Caps selector Gavin Larsen.
No time frame has been put on the in-form de Grandhomme’s return to the Black Caps but it means Bracewell makes a surprise comeback as an allrounder in Wednesday’s first one-day international against West Indies in Whangarei.
The 27-year-old has 27 tests, 14 ODIS and 14 Twenty20 internationals for his country but his most recent was against India in Dharamsala in October 2016. Since then it’s been a rocky ride for the controversial cricketer who bowled New Zealand to a test victory over Australia in Hobart in 2011, but left his career in jeopardy after a series of off-field incidents involving alcohol.
When Bracewell took the field for Central Stags in October he hadn’t played since last December, when he suffered a serious knee injury when falling awkwardly on the slippery Yarrow Stadium turf.
In May he was sentenced to 100 hours community service and banned from driving for one year for his third drink-driving conviction, after he was caught three times over the legal breath alcohol limit near his Hawke’s Bay home.
He had responded to a panicked call from his partner after their pet cockatoo was killed by dogs they were looking after for a friend. Rather than draw a line through his name, New Zealand Cricket left the Black Caps door ajar for Bracewell. Coach Mike Hesson was strong on the fact Bracewell had matured and tried hard to change his ways.
Said Larsen: ‘‘He’s done absolutely everything that he’s needed to do to get himself back into the international frame. It’s really pleasing to see him back.’’
Bracewell always hinted at ability with the bat, with a sound technique and ability to clear the rope with ease, but a test average of 13.85 and ODI average of 10.57 belied that. Bracewell flew into gear with the willow this season, scoring 245 Plunket Shield runs at 81.66, including a knock of 97 against Auckland in Nelson.
In Ford Trophy he scored 116 at 39 and strike rate of 138, then in Wednesday’s Twenty20 opener hit 32 off 21 balls in the Stags’ fivewicket loss to Auckland.
‘‘I watched him quite closely from those early Plunket Shield games. He got 97 in Nelson and he batted superbly in that knock, as good as I’ve seen him. He carried that on in Ford Trophy and we’ve seen him get better and better with the ball,’’ Larsen said.
‘‘I spoke to him [on Wednesday] and he’s in a very positive mindset and very happy with where his game is at; batting and bowling.’’
Larsen said Bracewell was a like for like replacement for de Grandhomme whose batting was one of the New Zealand highlights of the 2-0 test series win.
Another contender, Otago’s Jimmy Neesham, was being monitored after struggling a back injury during the Ford Trophy last week, Larsen said.
Northern Knights allrounder Scott Kuggeleijn was another on the injured list due to an ankle niggle. Larsen said Kuggeleijn, when fit, was more seen as competition for fast bowlers Adam Milne and Lockie Ferguson than a genuine allrounder at international level.