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After a long wait, the Netherlands are all set to play their first match of this ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Super League. They are the only team in the Super League to have not played a game yet.
In fact, the Netherlands haven’t really played a lot of ODI cricket in last few years. Since the start of 2018, the Dutch have played a mere six ODIs. Their two-match ODI series against Scotland recently was their first in two years. However, quite a few of the Netherlands cricketers have played a handful of 50-over games over the last month or so. While they had the two ODIs against Scotland, the Netherlands ‘A’ side faced Ireland Wolves in a three-match 50-over series as well.
Pieter Seelaar will lead the 15-man squad. The Netherlands have got back a few players from their respective Counties. The likes of Timm van der Gugten, Fred Klaassen and Brandon Glover have returned. However, players like Ryan ten Doeschate, Roelof van der Merwe and Colin Ackermann are bound by their County contracts and weren’t released.
On the other hand, this will be Ireland’s third series in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Super League. They haven’t been at their best. They have lost five out of their six games and are lying 10th. In fact, Ireland’s form in ODI cricket on the whole hasn’t been great. Since the start of 2020, Ireland have played 11 ODI matches, winning just two and losing nine.
Thus, the Andrew Balbirnie-led side will be looking for a turnaround. Curtis Campher who has had a wonderful start to his international career is ruled out due to injury. However, Ireland welcome back the in-form and experienced duo of George Dockrell and William Porterfield in their 15-man side.
This is the first bilateral ODI series between the Netherlands and Ireland since August 2010. These two sides haven’t played a 50-over game in almost eight years. Moreover, the rivalry is heavily stacked in favour of the Irish who have a 7-1 lead in ODI cricket over the Dutch.
The Sportpark Maarschalkerweerd in Utrecht will host all the three ODIs in this series.
Key Players
Paul Stirling has been in scintillating form in this ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Super League. In six matches, the Ireland opener has smashed three hundreds and has amassed 441 runs at an average of 73.50. Stirling is one of the only two Ireland players to have recorded more than 200 runs in their last six ODIs. He has carried the Ireland batting line-up almost single-handedly over the last year or so. Hence, there is absolutely no doubt Ireland will once again be banking on Stirling to provide the solid starts at the top.
George Dockrell’s form in domestic cricket has earned him a recall. He is yet to play a game in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Super League but he has been batting beautifully in the domestic 50-over competition. The 28-year-old Ireland all-rounder has aggregated a staggering 364 runs in five innings in the Ireland Inter-Provincial 50-over Cup which included four half-centuries and a hundred. His left-arm spin was effective too as he returned with four wickets.
Max O’Dowd has been in superb form in the last few months. He smashed a fine 133 not out against Malaysia in the Nepal T20I tri-series. He top-scored with 82 in the first ODI against Scotland and starred in Netherland’s win. That was his third fifty in as many ODI matches. Overall, he has played just four ODIs and he has amassed 235 runs at an average of 78.33. Hence, the 27-year-old Netherlands opener will be the key in the batting department for the hosts.
Vivian Kingma is in magnificent form with the ball. The 26-year-old Netherlands fast bowler has returned with 10 wickets in his last four 50-over matches. He took five wickets (3/21 and 2/23) in the ODI series against Scotland. Prior to that, he played a couple of games against the Ireland Wolves and returned with figures of 2/55 and 3/5 in the two games respectively. Kingma has been lethal with the new ball and he will be a massive threat to the Ireland batters.
Prediction
It was way back in 2013 that Netherlands and Ireland last faced each other in an ODI match. That game was a tied one. Prior to that, Ireland won seven ODI games on the bounce against the Netherlands. The latter have won just one game against Ireland which was back in 2007, before the 2007 Cricket World Cup.
Thus, the Netherlands will be out to correct their lopsided record against Ireland. They haven’t played a lot of ODI cricket in the last few years but they are coming into this series on the back quite a bit of 50-over cricket. Meanwhile, Ireland themselves haven’t had the best of runs in ODI cricket in the recent past. Hence, but given their experience, Ireland may just start as slight favourites but don’t count the Netherlands out.
