Expat set for NZ debut

Colin de Grandhomme will become yet another of his generation out of southern Africa who, having decided to check out life beyond his homeland, now finds himself playing against team-mates he grew up with.

The Zimbabwe-born de Grandhomme makes his starting Twenty20 debut against his homeland for New Zealand at Eden Park on Saturday, having already had a taste of the international scene when taking two fine catches as a substitute fieldsman during New Zealand's victory in the last One-Day International at Napier on Thursday.

The Auckland-based de Grandhomme has demonstrated his power-hitting during the last two seasons of HRV Cup play while also becoming an integral member of the Queen City side through all forms of the game.

It was after leaving school and wondering what he was going to do with himself that he decided to give New Zealand a try and all had gone well for him.

"It was a big step, pretty nerve-wracking at first but it worked out well and I have made lots of friends so it has been good," he said.

Now he was not so much worried about the fact he would be playing Zimbabwe, it was about making his international debut for New Zealand, at Eden Park.

Dipak Patel in New Zealand, and former West Indian player Phil Simmonds in Zimbabwe, had been significant in his development.

Test cricket remained the goal and he felt he was still capable of achieving that so long as he had the top two inches sorted out in his game.

Twenty20 was a game he found enjoyable, and it seemed to suit his style.

The former Zimbabwe Under-19 international said there were some good players in the touring side but so long as only one or two were standing up at any one time it was always going to be hard to win.