The much-anticipated ODI World Cup starts on October 5 in India. A 10-team tournament this time around means two nations come into the main event following a tough battle in the qualifiers. As runners-up of this qualifiers round, the Netherlands qualified for participation in the World Cup 2023 and will start their World Cup 2023 journey against Pakistan on October 6. Before the action kicks off, let us look at the Netherlands ODI World Cup squad.
Netherlands are the 10th team to qualify for ICC ODI World Cup 2023.#CricTracker #CWCQualifier #BasdeLeede pic.twitter.com/ZvfAha6zLr
— CricTracker (@Cricketracker) July 6, 2023
Currently with 1044 points, the Netherlands stands at 14th in the ICC ODI rankings, and they will need to bring their A-game if at all they see themselves going beyond the group stage.
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Netherland's ODI World Cup squad: Our predictions
Let us look at the names of those will board the flight to India and make it into the Netherlands ODI World Cup squad for the mega event in October.
Specialist batsmen
The following are who have been called upon to do the heavy lifting in the batting department for the Netherlands:
- Vikramjit Singh
As a stylish opening batter, Vikramjit Singh has a career batting average of 32.32 in the ODI format and has been in terrific form in 2023. The left-hander has scored 441 runs in 13 innings so far with a strike rate of 82.12 with one fifty and a hundred to his name. Vikramjit is the anchor for the Netherlands and can change gears depending on the situation too.
- Max O'Dowd
Max O'Dowd is a seasoned campaigner for the Netherlands, with 1158 ODI runs for the Dutch nation ever since his debut. The 29-year-old batter has been the leader of the batting attack for the Netherlands in 2023, with 503 runs in 13 innings and three brilliant fifty-plus scores.
In 2023, he has worked on his strike rate, which has improved to 79.21 versus 66.95 in 2022. O’Dowd can be a game changer for the Netherlands at the top of the order if he gets going.
3. Sybrand Engelbrecht
Sybrand Engelbrecht, who played for South Africa U19 previously, is a part of the Netherlands squad. He is yet to make his international debut, but has excellent numbers in List A cricket, having scored 1257 runs from 46 innings at an average of 45.53.
- Teja Nidamanuru
Teja Nidamanuru is another gun player the Netherlands will be counting on. Ever since his debut in 2022, Teja has played 20 ODIs, averaging 29.47. But the good part is the strike rate. He scores at the rate of 95.06, which is the need of the hour in ODI cricket, and already has scored two hundreds in 2023.
Netherlands won ODIs twice against full-members in 2023.
— Kausthub Gudipati (@kaustats) June 27, 2023
vs ZIM at Harare (21 Jan)
vs WI at Harare (26 Jun)
– Teja Nidamanuru scored century in both matches.
– These are the only 2 centuries since Netherlands regained ODI status in 2018.
Wicket keepers
These two will most probably be the keepers in the Netherlands ODI World Cup squad:
- Scott Edwards
The captain of the ship, Scott Edwards, will be the first-choice wicketkeeper-batter for the Netherlands going into the World Cup. The prolific batter has shown his class in the qualifiers where he was in terrific touch, scoring 314 runs in eight innings. Scott has been leading the pack from the front, and his finishing ability will be of great help to his teammates given that he can score very freely once he is set in the crease.
- Wesley Barresi
One of the most experienced Netherland batters, Wesley has been part of the ODI setup since 2010. He has played a total of 44 innings for the Netherlands, with an average and strike-rate of 30.62 and 78.55 respectively. The senior pro, who is already 39 years old, would be aiming to end his white-ball career on a high by playing his probable last ODI World Cup.
Netherlands had Noah Croes in the World Cup qualifiers, but there is very little chance that he will get included in the squad.
All rounders
A team with a mix of bowlers who can bat and vice versa is always a blessing to the captain. And the Netherlands have a bunch of all-rounders to play with:
- Bas de Leede
Bas se Leede has been the man with the Midas touch. He can bat, he can bowl, and he can field well too. De Leede tormented the bowlers in the qualifying round, scoring 285 runs in seven innings with a great strike rate of 101.06.
The 23-year-old is no mug with the ball either. He at times opens the bowling for the Netherlands. In the seven matches he has bowled in 2023, he has already picked up 15 wickets and has a very good economy rate of 5.66. He will add much-needed balance to the Netherlands ODI World Cup squad.
By dropping a batter, Netherlands can also choose to pick Roelof van der Merwe. He last played an ODI in 2019 but has been going strong in various T20 leagues.
- Logan van Beek
Logan Van Beek has been holding the fort for the Netherlands both with the bat and the ball in dire times. Van Beek averages 30.17 in 2023 with the ball. He has picked up a total of 14 wickets this year so far.
In the batting department, van Beek can strike the long handle and has the ability to score runs quickly in the death overs.
- Saqib Zulfiqar
Saqid Zulfiqar, a talented wrist spin bowling all-rounder, has been pivotal in the Netherlands reaching the Finals of the Qualifiers of the World Cup. The young leg spinner has picked up eight wickets in 13 ODIs.
Saqib has a good variety of leg spins, flippers, and googly up his armoury to deceive the batters in spin-friendly Indian wickets.
- Colin Ackermann
Colin Ackermann, who missed out on the 15-member squad for World Cup Qualifier games in Zimbabwe, has returned to the squad given his handy spin bowling combined with the contribution he can provide with the bat. Ackermann has two wickets to his name in 2023 and has scored 115 runs in just three innings at a strike rate of 70.55.
5. Roelof van der Merwe
Roelof van der Merwe has plenty of experience in international cricket In 16 ODIs, the veteran has picked up 19 at an economy rate of 4.98. He has also scored 96 runs at an average of 19.20.
Specialist bowlers
The Netherlands is most likely to go ahead with two spinners and three out-and-out fast bowlers in the squad.
- Shariz Ahmad (spinner)
The 20-year-old sensation, Shariz Ahmad, is a genuine leg-break bowler. The crafty leg spinner has already picked up 11 wickets so far in 2023 at an economy rate of 6.61. In the Indian subcontinent, Shariz can spin his web on to the batters quite easily.
- Aryan Dutt (spinner)
Teams these days have been carrying too many left-handed batters to bring in variety, and that’s where Aryan Dutt can come in handy with his off-break spin bowling. Given the conditions in India, he can trouble any quality batter with his off breaks.
3. Ryan Klein
Ryan Klein has taken part in 12 ODIs thus far for the Netherlands and has picked up 12 wickets at an economy rate of 5.02. In the presence of van Beek and van Meekeren, it remains to be seen if Klein gets a chance to play.
- Paul van Meekeren
Netherlands Pace bowling sensation Paul Van Meekeran has been breathing fire with the ball ever since the 2022 T20 World Cup and is a part of the Netherlands ODI World Cup squad. The 30-year-old has already picked up six wickets in the five matches he has played so far in 2023.
In place of Kingma or Klaassen, Ryan Klein could be added.
Probable Netherlands ODI World Cup 2023 playing 11
Jotting down the players and the roles each player will hold in Indian conditions, the following would be the most suitable 11 for the Netherlands for the tournament:
- Vikramjit Singh
- Max O’Dowd
- Wesley Barresi
- Teja Nidamanuru
- Bas de Leede
- Scott Edwards (captain & wicketkeeper)
- Logan van Beek
- Saqib Zulfiqar
- Roelof van der Merwe
- Paul van Meekeren
- Aryan Dutt
The likely Netherlands ODI World Cup squad from a distance looks very settled and balanced, with a good mixture of fast bowlers and spin bowlers. The experience of Vikramjit, de Leede, Edwards, and van Beek holds the key for the Dutch.
On paper, if they play the right balanced squad with five batters, two all-rounders, two spinners and two pacers, they can be the dark horses and might cause a few upsets to the bigger teams here and there.
