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Big-game temperament could win Netherlands place in World Cup
AMSTERDAM: The Netherlands has a habit of coming good when the pressure is on. On the past two occasions, the Dutch have qualified for the ICC Cricket World Cup and they seem to save their best performances for key games.
In the 2001 ICC Trophy final the Netherlands secured an exciting victory in the most thrilling of circumstances over Namibia and four years later, it managed to clinch the fifth and final spot by beating the United Arab Emirates in Dublin.
But the Dutch will face a tough challenge if it is to qualify for a third consecutive World Cup. On form, a fifth-placed finish in last year’s ICC Intercontinental Cup suggests it may struggle to secure a top-four finish at this event, although it will be hoping its qualification for the ICC World Twenty20 2009 serves as a stronger indicator of its form in limited-overs cricket.
Captained by Jeroen Smits, the side contains plenty of talent, with much expected of emerging star Alex Kervezee who is on the staff at Worcestershire County Cricket Club, and the skipper is hopeful his side can make it to Asia in 2011.
“We are quite confident that we can qualify for the next World Cup,” said Smits.
“We do respect each and every side but the main thing is we have to focus on our own game and if we play to our abilities then we should do well.”
Peter Drinnen, who previously coached Scotland before taking up a similar role with the Netherlands, will use all his experience at this level of the game to help the Dutch qualify, while one of the greats of Dutch cricket, Roland Lefebvre, is also part of the coaching staff. Undoubtedly the biggest challenge it faces will be to overcome some inconsistent form in the past year.
An under-strength Netherlands team suffered a humiliating eight-run defeat to Italy, who then failed to gain promotion from the Pepsi ICC World Cricket League Division 4, at the European Championships last summer, although it achieved morale-boosting ODI victories over Bermuda and Kenya in August 2008.
Its most important achievement in 2008, however, was its qualification for this year’s ICC World Twenty20 in England. With an opening match against England at Lord’s this event will provide an excellent opportunity to promote the game in the Netherlands.
The Netherlands recorded one victory at the ICC Cricket World Cup 2007, with a comfortable eight-wicket win over Scotland, thanks to 3-12 from man of the match Billy Stelling. Its participation in the event will be forever remembered, though for the game against South Africa in which Herschelle Gibbs hit six consecutive sixes off the bowling off Daan van Bunge.
Leg-spinner Van Bunge announced his retirement after that event, but he returned to international cricket in 2008, and will be part of the Netherlands’ squad at this tournament.
Netherlands (squad): Jeroen Smits (captain), Peter Borren, Mudassar Bukhari, Daan van Bunge, Ryan ten Doeschate, Tom de Grooth, Maurits Jonkman, Muhammad Kashif, Alexei Kervezee, Ruud Nijman, Darron Reekers, Edgar Schiferli, Pieter Seelaar, Eric Szwarczynski, Bas Zuiderent. |
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Cric Contest Ratings |
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 Tests
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First ever Premier Ratings. Who leads whom? A unique formula devised by the criccontest team.  |
| Mohandas Menon |
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