WELLINGTON: Colin de Grandhomme has withdrawn from New Zealand’s ODI squad for the series against West Indies and has returned to Zimbabwe following the death of his father. Doug Bracewell has been picked as a replacement for the series which starts from December 20, with no timeline set for de Grandhomme’s return. “This is obviously extremely sad news for Colin and his family and we’re all thinking of them at the moment,” Gavin Larsen, New Zealand’s selector, said. “Right now the most important thing is that Colin is with his family.” This is Bracewell’s first call-up to the national squad since he was sentenced to 100 hours of community service in May this year for a drink-driving offence. The Central Districts fast bowler’s previous appearance for New Zealand was on the tour of India last year, where he played only one ODI. De Grandhomme was in great form in the Test series against West Indies, striking New Zealand’s striking 105 off 74 balls in the Wellington Test to take the record for the fastest maiden Test century. His innings was also the second-fastest Test hundred by a New Zealand batsman. He struck another rapid half-century in Hamilton as New Zealand went on to sweep the series 2-0. The first ODI will be played in Whangarei, while the remaining two matches will be played in Christchurch on December 23 and 26.
Published in Daily Times, December 15th 2017.