Former New Zealand all-rounder Grant Elliott has decided to hang his boots from competitive cricket now that his Birmingham Bears side’s Twenty20 Blast campaign has come to an end.  However, in March 2017, he took retirement from international cricket and the same year, he led Birmingham to Finals after taking over the captaincy from Ian Bell mid-season.

However, Elliott and his team struggled this time around as they finished sixth on the north group table. In their last match, Birmingham lost to Worcestershire by 15 runs. He himself had a difficult season with the bat, scoring just 80 runs in 10 innings. Although he did shine in the bowling department, scalping 19 wickets in 14 games at 19.57.

While talking to BBC WM’s Bears Podblast, Elliott said, “I’ll be open to games in Switzerland, ice cricket and those sorts of things. 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.”

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In an international career which lasted for around nine years, Grant featured in more than 100 matches for New Zealand before joining Birmingham in 2017 as a non-overseas player on a Kolpak deal. He played five Tests, 83 One-Day Internationals and 17 Twenty20 Internationals since making his debut in 2008.

Recalling his match-winning knock of 84 in the 2015 World Cup semi-final against South Africa that led New Zealand to their first 50-over final, he said, “I realized why I played the game four years ago. It’s a hard game. 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. 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.”