Key Highlights :
The Netherlands and England will meet in Pune on Wednesday with qualification for the next global 50-over tournament potentially on the line. For the Netherlands, it is a “massive opportunity” to edge England and break into the Champions Trophy, according to Netherlands all-rounder Bas de Leede.
The 2019 champions have endured a miserable World Cup, sitting rock bottom in 10th place after seven games, while the only associate nation at the competition has exceeded expectations with victory over Bangladesh and a famous upset of South Africa. De Leede, who plays for Durham, believes the Netherlands have a real chance of qualifying for the Champions Trophy if England succumb to the pressure of their situation.
“As a title-defending team there is a huge pressure on you straight away, especially when you don’t get a great start, and I’m sure there is added pressure for them now on this game,” he said. “For us it’s a privilege to be playing for a spot in the Champions Trophy, for them it’s an expectation to finish at least in the top eight.”
De Leede is also embracing the chance to strike a blow against a system that frequently cuts out those who do not have full member status as ICC level. The abandonment of the World Cup Super League format means the Netherlands no longer have mandatory games against the biggest names and will instead slip back into a structure that pits them against the likes of Namibia, Nepal, Scotland and Canada.
“Getting games against the bigger nations is very hard for us. It’s hard to get teams to play us so we’ve got to force them to, that’s the only way,” he said. “If we did qualify for the Champions Trophy it would secure another seven games against the best teams. That how we keep progressing as a national team and it’s in our hands.”
The Netherlands have been preparing for the game against England with a series of practice matches against the England Performance Programme (EPP) and the Netherlands A-team. The Dutch have also been boosted by the return of their captain Peter Borren, who has been out of action since the World Cup with a shoulder injury.
The Netherlands have been making steady strides in international cricket since their first appearance at the World Cup in 1996, and a win over England on Wednesday would be a huge boost for the team. De Leede believes the Netherlands have the talent and the confidence to pull off a win and qualify for the Champions Trophy.
“The proof is there in the South Africa game. To see what we have been practising come off against a team like that was great to see and gave us a lot of confidence as a team,” he said. “Of course England are a dangerous side, they have such quality in the batting and bowling departments, but two wins in this campaign is pretty good for us and we feel as a group there is more out there for us.”
The Netherlands and England will meet in Pune on Wednesday with a place in the Champions Trophy up for grabs. The Netherlands have the opportunity to break into the tournament and make a statement for associate nations everywhere, and all-rounder Bas de Leede is determined to make the most of it.