ICC WC T20 Match Preview: Dutch can genuinely upset England

Jun.05, 2009 in England, Netherlands, t20 News

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Former Dutch assistant head coach, Ian Pont, says The Netherlands could cause the shock of the T20 World Cup by overcoming the hosts England in the opening match at Lord’s on Friday.

Pont, who was National Bowling Coach and coached the team during the 2007 ICC World Cup reckons the squad have made great progress since then and are poised to ‘do an Ireland’ at this tournament. “The Dutch are the surprise package. Underestimate them at your peril because they have some match-winners in their squad.”

Now with the addition of world-class left-arm pace bowler Dirk Nannes, the Australian born to Dutch parents, Netherlands can cause a shock or two as it also boasts players with professional experience in Bas Zuiderent, Daan van Bunge, Alexei Kervezee, Ryan ten Doeschate as well as junior NZ internationals Peter Borren and Darren Reekers.

Pont has a foot in both camps having worked with England players Ravi Bopara, James Foster and Graham Napier while coaching with Essex, as well as England’s Head Coach Andy Flower. He said, “England would normally win this match 99 times out of a 100, but T20 is a strange game and even the most experienced players get it wrong. The Netherlands are the form team from the associate countries with nothing to lose. They disposed of Scotland far more professionally than England in this week’s warm-ups so expect to see a pumped up Dutch team ready to show what they can do.”

“Pace man Edgar Schiferli and left-arm spinner Pieter Seelaar are two bowlers who can change a match if they are on song. It’s just so good to see how they have progressed recently. Going forward, youngster Tim Gruijters is someone to watch out for in the future. He came on one of my coaching courses in Rotterdam 4 years ago and performed really well. I feel that the Dutch have got some seriously talented lads coming along.”

The Dutch have recently qualified for the ICC World Cup again and moved up two places in the ICC rankings to sit just behind Ireland. “I can see a time soon where The Netherlands are the top ranked country outside of Test Cricket, which would be a remarkable achievement from where the team was just 5 years ago.”

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