The Dutch are coming (again), but the Irish aren’t

The Netherlands (or rather, the Dutch cricket board – the KNCB) have accepted the ECB’s offer to take part in their shiny new 40-over competition (not to be confused with their old, irrelevant 40-over competition).
Ireland, meanwhile, have (somewhat controversially, in some quarters) decided not to take part, partly due to the difficulties involved in balancing [...]

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Afghanistan and the Netherlands both Crumble

Far removed in many ways from the drama of the world’s most famous Test series, some extraordinary cricket has been taking place in Amstelveen. Twenty wickets fell on the first day of the Intercontinental Cup match between the Netherlands and Afghanistan, the Dutch managing to make 181 whilst the tourists made just 107 in reply.
Hamid [...]

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Ups and Downs for the Dutch

Dutch cricket has had quite a summer – as England can attest – but it will no longer be able to rely on the services of ‘Don’t Call Him Dirty’ Dirk Nannes, who has been called up by Australia (at last) for the Twenty20 internationals at Old Trafford that will follow the Ashes. Although Nannes‘ [...]

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Minnows making their case

One of the criticisms that a sport like cricket,with such a limited number of established international sides, tends to face with regard to international tournaments is that some of the Associate nations are simply making up the numbers, contributing to an ICC-sponsored illusion about the relative popularity of the game outside of its traditional strongholds.
There [...]

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The Dutch are coming…

I thought that the Netherlands might spring a surprise in the World Twenty20 opener – and they did.
Where this leaves England is a matter for another day (and other bloggers), but for now congratulations to the Netherlands (especially Ryan ten Doeschate, who took 2-35 and made 22 from 17 balls)!

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Things you might not know about Dutch cricket

England may be feeling confident ahead of Friday’s World Twenty20 opener against the Netherlands, but Ryan ten Doeschate and Dirk Nannes are capable of propelling the underdogs to a surprise win. In case you aren’t too familiar with the Dutch side, here are one or two ‘did you knows’ about cricket in the Netherlands:

A Dutch [...]

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ICC World Twenty20 Preview: Group B

England have always struggled for balance and stability in their Twenty20 side, particularly at the top of the order, and the absence of Andrew Flintoff seems likely to exacerbate those struggles, as does the fact that the Test and 50-over captain does not feature in the squad for this tournament. Home advantage may be valuable, [...]

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World Cup Qualifier: Super Eights

After five matches each, the wheat have been separated from the marginally more chaff-like wheat, and 12 teams have been reduced down to eight for the Super Eights stage, which it is to be hoped will be more than half well named. The teams eliminated, and therefore definitely not going to the finals (and also [...]

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