Netherlands

Netherlands Men’s Cricket Team History

The history of cricket in the Netherlands dates back to the late 19th century, when English teams, including one featuring the renowned author Arthur Conan Doyle, toured the country. A significant early milestone for the Dutch team was their victory over Australia in a one-inning match in 1964. This achievement preceded their official recognition by the International Cricket Council (ICC), as they were granted Associate Membership in 1966.

Over the years, the Netherlands has established its presence on the international stage, featuring in the ODI World Cup in 1996, 2003, 2007, 2011, and 2023. They also played a role in hosting the 1999 tournament, though they did not participate as a competing team. In T20 World Cups, the Dutch side has been known for creating upsets; they famously defeated England in a thrilling encounter in the 2009 edition. More recently, they knocked South Africa out of the 2022 T20 World Cup and followed this by beating South Africa once again in the 2023 ODI World Cup. However, their campaigns in the 2024 and 2026 T20 World Cups proved challenging, yielding only one victory against fellow Associate teams in each tournament.

The Netherlands made history as the sole non-Full Member nation to participate in the ICC World Cup Super League, a 13-team competition that ran from 2020 to 2023. Their place in this elite league was secured after winning the 2015-17 ICC World Cricket League Championship.

Prominent cricketers such as Roland Lefebvre, Ryan ten Doeschate, Dirk Nannes, Bas Zuiderant, and Logan van Beek have been instrumental in elevating Dutch cricket’s global profile. Many of these players have taken their talents to major domestic competitions, including county cricket and T20 franchise leagues around the world, contributing as both players and coaches.