Colin de Grandhomme
A Zimbabwean-born all-rounder whose brute batting force and deceptive medium pace became a secret weapon for New Zealand's cricket renaissance.
Born 1986 (age 40)·New Zealand cricketer·Birthday: July 22·Millennials
Biography
Colin de Grandhomme's path to the Black Caps was unconventional, beginning in Harare before his family emigrated to New Zealand when he was a teenager. For years, he was a domestic powerhouse, known in New Zealand cricket circles for his ability to change a game in a session with monstrous hitting and nagging, wicket-taking seam bowling. His international debut came later than most, but he seized it with a startling bang, scoring a rapid century against Pakistan. De Grandhomme embodied a specific, invaluable role: the lower-order game-breaker. His calm demeanor at the crease belied the violence of his strokes, while his gentle seamers often produced crucial breakthroughs. He was a key, if understated, component of New Zealand's most successful era, contributing to a World Cup final appearance and the historic victory in the inaugural World Test Championship.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Colin was born in 1986, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Colin Was Born
The biggest hits of 1986
#1 Movie
Top Gun
Best Picture
Platoon
#1 TV Show
The Cosby Show
Colin's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1986Born
Challenger disaster; Chernobyl nuclear meltdown
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $66,600Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"That's What Friends Are For" — Dionne & FriendsBest Picture: Platoon
1991Started school
Soviet Union dissolves; World Wide Web goes public
Gas: $1.14/galHome: $82,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" — Bryan AdamsBest Picture: The Silence of the Lambs
1999Became a teenager
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
2002Could drive
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2004Could vote
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
2007Turned 21
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2016Turned 30
Donald Trump elected president; Brexit vote
Gas: $2.14/galHome: $181,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Love Yourself" — Justin BieberBest Picture: Moonlight
2026Turned 40
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- He scored a century on his Test debut for New Zealand against Pakistan in 2016, reaching the milestone in just 71 balls.
- Was a member of the New Zealand team that won the inaugural ICC World Test Championship in 2021.
- Played a crucial role in the 2019 Cricket World Cup, helping New Zealand reach the final against England.
- Holds the record for the fastest Test fifty by a New Zealand batsman, off 28 balls against the West Indies in 2020.
Did You Know?
His father, Laurence de Grandhomme, played first-class cricket in Zimbabwe.
He holds a unique record of taking a wicket with his very first ball in both Test and ODI cricket.
Before committing fully to cricket, he was a promising rugby player in his youth.
“I just try to hit the ball hard and see what happens.”
