World Twenty20 team preview: Netherlands

Cricket365
March 15, 2014

The Netherlands, back when they had Ryan ten Doeschate, used to be quite good. Now… not so much. They haven't played an official T20 this year (but lost to Afghanistan in the warm-ups, and twice to Hong Kong).

Captain: Peter Borren Coach: Peter Drinnen WT20 Best: Group B exit, 2009

Overview The Netherlands, back when they had Ryan ten Doeschate, used to be quite good. Now… not so much. They haven't played an official T20 this year (but lost to Afghanistan in the warm-ups, and twice to Hong Kong).

Added to this, they've had their ODI status revoked, and have had to make a few last minute changes to their squad. They're a side filled with veterans and rookies, and will need a rapid turn around in form, especially with the bat, to even get a qualifying win.

Key Batsman All-rounder Michael Swart has the best T20 average of the current lot, at just over 37, and is the country's top run getter in the format, with just 11 games under his belt. He opens the batting with Stephan Myburgh, who has actually been in good nick (comparatively speaking).

Key Bowler Medium pacer Mudassar Bukhari is a tad expensive, at nearly seven to the over in the format, but has a habit of taking at least two wickets in a game, and averages under 18 with the ball. He is one of the more experience bowlers in the side.

Likely Benchwarmer Teen medium pacer Vivian Kingma has one international to his name, an ODI where he took no wickets, and in his eight List A games averages 51 with the ball. He doesn't add anything with the bat either, so drinks carrying is the order of the day for him.

Cricket365's Prediction An early exit, followed by seeing some of the local sights, and then a trip back to Holland.

They Said: "The Netherlands team faces a new period of at least four years outside of top-flight cricket. A new Dutch team will have to be built up. That's a task that needs new faces". – former technical director of top cricket in Netherlands Jeroen Smits.

Squad: Peter Borren, Wesley Barresi , Logan van Beek, Mudassar Bukhari , Ben Cooper, Tim Gruijters , Timm van der Gugten, Tom Heggelman, Vivian Kingma, Ahsan Malik, Stephan Myburgh, Michael Rippon, Pieter Seelaar , Michael Swart, Eric Szwarczynski.

Fixtures 17 March: v United Arab Emirates, Sylhet 19 March: v Zimbabwe, Sylhet 21 March: v Ireland, Sylhet