Right, we’re recording now, Colin.
That’s nice, Willy.
How are you?
Good mate.
Good to hear. Thanks for giving us some time for the interview.
Yeah lucky. I’m surprised you’re giving me some time.
I give all the players time, mate. Let’s firstly talk about your tache.
Just grows naturally I suppose.
Have you ever grown one before?
No.
First time growing it?
First time.
Are you going to keep it?
Yeah, I’m going to keep it for now and see how we go. (sidebar - he’s now shaved it!)
You realise you’re actually getting a bit of a cult following for your moustache?
Yeah it sounds like it. I’ve been hearing that.
How does that make you feel?
Like a Mo-man.
You realise that there’s people who only know you for your moustache internationally?
Yeah. That’s why I might get rid of it then. No one will know who I am.
If you have a form slump.
Yeah.
Let’s talk about your debut Test series against Pakistan. Happy with how it went?
Of course. I’ll take that any day. Great start. Out of the blue.
Did you surprise yourself?
Yeah. To be fair I thought I was just going to hold up an end and score some runs not take that many wickets.
And then when you did you were like…
How good!?
What about everything that came with it? Having to do media, photo shoots, how do you like all that stuff?
I love media haha. It’s probably going to be my next job.
You are a man of few words.
Yeah.
What’s the theory there?
Just give nothing, you get nothing. To be fair I don't love the cameras.
What about the recorder?
It’s not as bad.
What don’t you like about the cameras?
Just never been my thing. Talking in front of a crowd and just talking in front of heaps of people is pretty tough for me.
Would that scare you more than facing a 150km bowler?
Definitely.
And you’ve always been like that since you were young?
Yeah. It’s always been my worst job. Tough to do.
We’ll work with you though. We’ll get you better at it.
I’ll have to get better if I keep doing well.
But the thing is I don’t actually think it’s a bad thing. What you say is actually quite good and people like a man of few words…
My dictionary doesn’t have as many words as many people.
Fair enough. What’s your philosophy on cricket?
It is a pretty simple game but it’s complicated by us players mentally. I try and keep it simple.
Do you think in the past you’ve overcomplicated it?
Definitely. I’ve been not well in the head like most cricketers.
When was this?
Just when you go through tough patches I suppose. Start thinking about your technique and things going wrong and then you start questioning your eyes too. So many thoughts going around the head.
Did you ever consider giving up the game?
Definitely. I thought of quitting a few times before.
Seriously?
Yeah.
How close did you come?
Luckily I’d only been playing domestic cricket so you get half the year off and then you want it again once you go and do the hard yakka, proper work.
And then you make the BLACKCAPS and realise the hard work’s worth it?
Definitely, for sure. I always wanted to get to the top and try and stay here but it’s been a battle.
And now that you’re here, how does it all feel?
It feels good.
Cool team to be a part of?
Definitely. All the boys are good. 
And what about the Chappell-Hadlee series?
Should be good. Feisty I suppose. It’s going to be aggressive. Hopefully it brings the best out of most people. I think it will be good.
Can you tell us a little bit about your journey to the Black Caps.
Well finished school in Zimbabwe and then decided to go on a gap year sort of thing … and started in club cricket in New Zealand.
How did you choose New Zealand?
Just through because we had Phil Simmons as our coach for under 19s and Dipak (Patel) was the coach of the club team in Auckland (Howick-Pakuranga) and they were looking for an overseas pro at that time so I managed to scrape in there and I enjoyed it.
How old were you?
18 or 19.
What was it like coming to New Zealand? Was it a bit of a culture shock?
It was tough because I had never travelled that far before and I was on my own.
And you’re pretty shy?
I didn’t know anyone. I suppose you’re lucky for sport that you can make friends pretty quickly through sport, otherwise I think I would have quit.
Did you have to extend your chat game early on?
No. I offered nothing haha…
Now you were only 19 or 20 when you made the Auckland team right?
Well I was lucky because I got a chance with Mal Loye, the overseas pro who came over for Auckland and he got injured. I got a chance when he left and really made the most of my debut for Auckland but fell a bit short.
Fell a bit short?
Yeah. Short of the three figures.
Oh really?
It was a pretty good debut.
So you’re quite good at debuts then?
Haha I guess so…
What do you enjoy doing outside of cricket?
Love a bit of golf and a bit of fishing too. They’re good. I find that’s an awesome way to chill out for me.
What sort of fishing?
Just any fishing.
Off a boat?
Yeah off a boat or done a bit of fly fishing but just nice and chilled. Get to chill out on the water. Nice and peaceful. Get out of the city away from everything.
Yeah. Can you tell us about your nickname?
Which one?
Oooh. How many is there?
Don’t know.
Well I know one…
Every day they seem to come up with new ones.
Really? Can you give us...
Dutchie.
Dutchie, yeah. But what about Big House…?
No one has ever called me that.
They call you Big House.
Who?
The press do.
Do they? I think that probably comes about my surname. They think it means Big House.
De Grandhomme … Big House.
It actually means really big man.
Really?
Yeah. The big man.
The big man.
Yeah it’s a French surname.
And what about Dutchie?
That was when I first rolled over from Zim. Because my accent was so thick when I first came over they thought I was an Afrikana. Just got straight into me.
Have you had some other nicknames?
With the mo I think I have.
Yeah the mo has grown a few.
Yeah there’s another I can’t mention.
We'll leave that there.
I am told you’re not a gherkin man?
Definitely not a gherkin man. They should be left in the vege garden those things.
But you like to play gherkin?
Gherkin, what a game.. (cricket can be referred to as gherkin by players sometimes)
Ok, I’ve only got a few more questions. Thanks for your patience.
Missing my nap time by the way.
Sorry about that. What do you like most about cricket?
Well playing is a lot better than watching it, that’s for sure. It’s not the easiest of watches cricket.
You don’t watch much? You’re not a cricket stiff?
If I’m laying around and there’s nothing else I’ll just leave it on and probably nap away.
So you like naps?
Yeah.
Most days?
Every day if I can I will have one just after lunch.
Apart from cricket playing days?
Yeah.
If I happen to be in the change room, I will probably have one.
Well I won’t hold you from your afternoon nap any longer … Have you got any questions for me, Colin?
No.
Alright. Thanks for your time mate.
All good, fella.
