Cooper aims to use Holland all the way to Oz

Netherlands batsman Tom Cooper admits he has always planned on using his talents for the Dutch to propel him into the Australia team, and will continue that plan at the World Cup in the Antipodes next year.
Cooper is Holland’s star batsman, and qualifies for them thanks to his Dutch mother, even though he was born in Australia. He told Cricinfo that he’d never considered playing for Holland until they called him, and has been open about his Baggy Green ambitions.
He said, having played for Australia A recently: “All along – and Dutch cricket has known this – my goal and my dream has been to play for Australia.
“Up until that late-night phone message it hadn’t even crossed my mind that I was eligible or that there was an opportunity to play for Netherlands. They’ve always been aware that my No. 1 goal is playing for Australia.
“To get the opportunity to play in a World Cup, in my opinion, can only be good. If you can perform and get your name known, then who knows?
“Dirk Nannes went from the Dutch side to the Australian side, and who is to say if it was helpful, but it certainly got him in the limelight. The more opportunities you can get, the better.
“You have to score runs or take wickets when you get that opportunity, but it would be silly to turn it down.”
He added that he’d be happy to keep playing for Holland if Australia didn’t take him up on his talents: “Being an Associate nation, it doesn’t directly affect being picked by the Australian side.
“So I don’t have to put an end date on it. I just have to wait and see where it goes. From a selfish point of view, I would like to score a load more runs this year and get my name right up there for Australian selection.
“But if that doesn’t happen and further opportunities arrive with the Dutch team I would be silly to close the door on them, because they have done a lot for me along the way.”
Latest
-
News
Ollie Pope hits 245 as Surrey take upper-hand over Leicestershire on day three
England batsmen Ollie Pope and Joe Root hit red-ball centuries for their county.
-
News
Mohammad Abbas hat-trick puts Hampshire in command against Middlesex
Lancashire’s Matt Parkinson produced a ball of the century contender against Northamptonshire.
-
News
Shubman Gill and Mohammed Siraj earn first BCCI contracts
Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal, have suffered contract demotions.
-
News
Dom Sibley injury adds to England’s worries with Ben Stokes facing 12 weeks out
Stokes was injured playing in the IPL while Sibley was in County Championship action with Warwickshire.
-
News
Can England cope without talisman Ben Stokes against New Zealand this summer?
All-rounder Stokes faces up to 12 weeks out with a fractured finger.
-
News
Ben Stokes ruled out for up to three months with broken finger
The England all-rounder will have surgery on the injury picked up playing in the Indian Premier League.
-
News
Scott Borthwick hits century as Durham get better of Essex at Chelmsford
Essex fell apart on the opening day of their County Championship clash with Durham.
-
News
Babar Azam wants to top rankings in Test cricket as well
Currently sixth on the Test batting rankings, Babar Azam hopes to change that as soon as possible.
-
News
Cricket Australia announces contracted women’s players for 2021-22
Australia Women will host India and England this summer before heading to New Zealand for the ICC World Cup in March, 2022.
-
News
On this day in 2009: Andy Flower appointed England team director
The former Zimbabwe captain had been in charge on an interim basis since the previous January following Peter Moores’ sacking.