Netherlands Twenty20 World Cup Team

Netherlands Team - Twenty20 World Cup The Netherlands has been one of the strongest Cricket Council (International) Associate nations for years, and in 2009 will have its first opportunity to play international Twenty20 World Cup cricket.

Little is expected of the Dutch side at the tournament, however they are certain to provide colour and entertainment to the 2009 Twenty20 World Cup.

[[Netherlands Twenty20 World Cup]]

Twenty20 World Cup History

The Netherlands will be participating in the Twenty20 World Cup for the first time in 2009. The team qualified for the event by virtue of finishing as joint champions, with Ireland, of the 2009 Cricket Council (International) World Twenty20 Qualifier.

During the course of the 2009 Cricket Council (International) World Twenty20 Qualifier the Netherlands defeated teams with previous Twenty20 World Cup experience, including Scotland and Kenya. The Netherlands were defeated only once at the 2009 Cricket Council (International) World Twenty20 Qualifier, a statistic that should give them confidence going into the Twenty20 World Cup.

Strengths and Weaknesses

The Dutch team mostly comprises part-timers rather than full-time cricket players, which makes its form difficult to assess. The side certainly boasts both pride and courage, and several players can compete with the best in the world when they hit form.

However, the limited exposure the Dutch have to top class cricket will be a significant impediment to their putting in any sort of serious challenge to the test playing nations at the 2008 Twenty20 World Cup, and the team therefore seems destined to endure an early exit from the tournament.