Ex Black Cap Grant Elliott. 31 December 2017 Bay of Plenty Times- Photograph by George Novak
Ex Black Cap Grant Elliott. 31 December 2017 Bay of Plenty Times- Photograph by George Novak
The ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 was a watershed moment for New Zealand cricket.
New Zealand made their first final after six semifinal appearances since 1975 and captivated the wider sporting public.
There were so many highlights for New Zealand fans to rejoice in: Brendon McCullum's innovative captaincy and aggressivebatting, Kane Williamson's mighty six off Pat Cummins to beat Australia, Martin Guptill's epic 237 in the quarter-final win over the West Indies and Tim Southee's 7-33 against England.
But the lasting memory for many was the final over showdown in the semifinal with South Africa. Fiery Dale Steyn had the ball and facing him was expat South African Grant Elliott with five runs to win off two balls.
Elliott calmly swatted Steyn high, wide and handsome into the Eden Park crowd that was close to fever pitch by the time the mighty shot was struck.
As Steyn slumped to the ground in despair, Elliott showed his class and what sport is all about by helping the distraught Steyn to his feet. It was a moment for the ages.
Grant Elliott helps up South African bowler Dale Steyn. PHOTO/FILE
Elliott, now 38 and still parading his skills around the world's Twenty20 tournaments, is proud to be part of that special New Zealand side.
"For me it has always been about the team aspect and the feeling you get of camaraderie and what you can do for the guy next to you. It was a great moment for me to see how happy the team was and excited to get over the line for the first time into a final," he said.
"To be involved in a moment I guess the whole country was watching is really cool. Ironic in a way that I leave South Africa and then come to New Zealand and then knock South Africa out of the semifinals.
"I didn't make too many friends in South Africa. One of my mates says his son was in front of the TV crying saying 'why did he do that daddy?'".
Elliott is guest of honour at a fundraising night later this month in Tauranga for St George's Anglican Church in Gate Pa.
He will also run a special one-on-one coaching session for the first 10 young players to sign up at Bay Indoor Cricket Centre.
"My folks immigrated here close on three years now and it was quite a neat way for my dad to get involved in the community," Elliott said. "He asked me if I could lend a hand to help out with raising funds for the church."
Elliott will host an audio visual presentation with a sports quiz and great prizes up for grabs.
"When I do keynote speeches I normally talk about what goes into a poor team and what goes into a really good, high-performing team.
"I do relate back to the World Cup team and why that team was as high-performing as it was, what characteristics we showed, the leadership involved in it and also the special moments during that tournament and why that happened."
