The Netherlands Cricket Team: A Surprise Package
The Netherlands, the associate champions, are one of the most surprising and exciting teams in the world, with a remarkable journey and a growing fan base. The team has qualified for four World Cups, in 1996, 2003, 2011, and 2023, and has shown their potential and improvement against the top teams. The team is currently ranked 13th in the ICC Men’s ODI Rankings for Teams, behind Zimbabwe.
The Netherlands cricket team is thrilled to participate in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023, which will be hosted by India from October 5 to November 19. The team, led by Scott Edwards, has a balanced and young squad, with some experienced players and some emerging talents. In this blog post, we will look at the Netherlands’ squad, schedule, performance in the previous edition, and their chances of winning their first match in the World Cup.
Netherlands Squad for ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023
The Netherlands have announced a 15-member squad for the World Cup, with some changes from the one that qualified through the World Cup Qualifiers in 2019. Here is the full list of players:
- Scott Edwards © (wicketkeeper-batter)
- Max O’Dowd (opening batter)
- Bas de Leede (top-order batter)
- Vikram Singh (top-order batter)
- Teja Nidamanuru (middle-order batter)
- Paul van Meekeren (bowler)
- Colin Ackermann (allrounder)
- Roelof van der Merwe (allrounder)
- Logan van Beek (allrounder)
- Aryan Dutt (batting allrounder)
- Ryan Klein (bowler)
- Wesley Barresi (wicketkeeper-batter)
- Saqib Zulfiqar (batting allrounder)
- Shariz Ahmad (bowler)
- Sybrand Engelbrecht (bowler)
Some of the notable inclusions are Vikram Singh, Aryan Dutt, Shariz Ahmad, and Sybrand Engelbrecht, who have performed well in the domestic circuit and have earned their maiden World Cup call-ups. Some of the notable exclusions are Pieter Seelaar, who retired from international cricket after the Qualifiers, Ben Cooper, who was dropped due to poor form, and Timm van der Gugten, who was ruled out due to injury.
Here is a table for the team players using name and type:
| Player | Type |
|---|---|
| Scott Edwards | Wicketkeeper-batter |
| Max O’Dowd | Opening batter |
| Bas de Leede | Top-order batter |
| Vikram Singh | Top-order batter |
| Teja Nidamanuru | Middle-order batter |
| Paul van Meekeren | Bowler |
| Colin Ackermann | Allrounder |
| Roelof van der Merwe | Allrounder |
| Logan van Beek | Allrounder |
| Aryan Dutt | Batting allrounder |
| Ryan Klein | Bowler |
| Wesley Barresi | Wicketkeeper-batter |
| Saqib Zulfiqar | Batting allrounder |
| Shariz Ahmad | Bowler |
| Sybrand Engelbrecht | Bowler |
Netherlands Schedule for ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023
The Netherlands are placed in Group B along with India, Australia, Bangladesh, New Zealand, England, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan. They will play eight matches in the group stage, with the top four teams advancing to the semi-finals. Here is the Netherlands’ schedule for the World Cup:
| Date | Opponent | Venue | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| October 6 | Pakistan | Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad | 08:30 UTC |
| October 11 | Bangladesh | Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad | 08:30 UTC |
| October 15 | Australia | Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad | 08:30 UTC |
| October 18 | New Zealand | MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai | 08:30 UTC |
| October 21 | South Africa | Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium, Dharamsala | 05:00 UTC |
| October 25 | Sri Lanka | Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow | 08:30 UTC |
| October 31 | England | Eden Gardens, Kolkata | 08:30 UTC |
Netherlands Performance in ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2019
The Netherlands did not participate in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2019, as they failed to qualify through the World Cup Qualifiers in 2018. They finished fourth in the group stage, with three wins and three losses. They won against Papua New Guinea by 57 runs, Nepal by 45 runs, and Hong Kong by 44 runs. They lost to Ireland by 93 runs, West Indies by 54 runs, and Zimbabwe by 6 wickets.
Some of the key players for the Netherlands in the Qualifiers were Ryan ten Doeschate, who scored 259 runs and became the highest run-scorer for the Netherlands in the tournament, Roelof van der Merwe, who took 16 wickets and became the highest wicket-taker for the Netherlands in the tournament, Wesley Barresi, who scored 225 runs and became the second-highest run-scorer for the Netherlands in the tournament, and Pieter Seelaar, who scored 136 runs and took 10 wickets and became the best allrounder for the Netherlands in the tournament.
Netherlands Chances of Winning ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023
The Netherlands have a slim chance of winning the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023, as they have a young and inexperienced team that lacks consistency and depth. They have a decent batting line-up that can score runs and handle pressure. They have a varied bowling attack that can take wickets and create chances. They also have some quality all-rounders who can contribute with both bat and ball. They have a record of upsetting some big teams in limited-overs cricket, such as England, India, and Pakistan.
However, the Netherlands also face some challenges and threats in their quest for glory. They have to cope with the absence of some key players like Seelaar, Cooper, and van der Gugten, who were part of their Qualifiers squad. They have to deal with some tough competition from other teams like India, Australia, New Zealand, and England, who have their own strengths and ambitions.
The Netherlands will have to play their best cricket and overcome all the obstacles to achieve their dream of winning their first match in the World Cup. It will be a fascinating and exciting journey for them and their fans.
I hope you enjoyed reading this blog post about the Netherlands cricket team for the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023. Please share your thoughts and comments below. Thank you for your time and attention. 😊
