Grant Elliott says Good Bye to one Day cricket

With an almost apologetic throwaway line, Grant Elliott confirmed his retirement from one-day international cricket.

The veteran allrounder slipped back in to Auckland Airport with his Black Caps team-mates on return from the World Twenty20, and without any fanfare delivered the line mid-sentence to a television reporter. "I've played my last one-day game," he said.

It was suspected Elliott, now 37, had played his last ODI in the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy series-winning match against Australia in Hamilton in February. He raised his bat to the crowd upon being dismissed but when asked about the gesture, a team spokesman said Elliott was waving to his son.

HANNAH PETERS/GETTY IMAGES

One of the iconic images of the 2015 Cricket World Cup as Grant Elliott consoles South African fast bowler Dale Steyn after hitting him for the match-winning six.

Now it's confirmed Elliott has played his 83rd and final ODI, just over a year since his career high point when he blasted South African fast bowler Dale Steyn into the Eden Park grandstand to launch New Zealand into the World Cup final. He didn't rule out continuing his T20 career, although the Black Caps' next international commitments aren't till August with two confirmed tests in South Africa but no limited overs matches.

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"I'm going to reassess, let the dust settle. As long as I'm still enjoying my cricket, I haven't really made a call on anything yet," Elliott told Newshub on Friday.

"I've played my last one-day game, but there is three formats. I won't be considered for test cricket I don't think, I haven't seen my test clothing for a number of years," he quipped. "T20 cricket I'm enjoying, and the body feels good."

South African-born Elliott made his first-class debut in his homeland before shifting to Christchurch in search of more opportunities. He made his test debut against England in 2008 and played five tests in all. He made his first appearance in black clothing in England later that year as an injury replacement and chalked up 16 T20 internationals to go with his 83 ODIs in an eight-year span.

ANDREW CORNAGA/PHOTOSPORT

It's all over and Grant Elliott has smashed the semifinal-winning six against South Africa in March 2015.

He averaged 34 with the bat, including two centuries, and snared 39 ODI wickets with his medium pacers at 30 and an economy rate of 5.4.