The Dutch international summer kicks off tomorrow at Voorburg, under the looming presence of the T20 World Cup, as European rivals Ireland and Scotland arrive for a six-match T20I trilateral series.
This series will not only serve as a warm-up for the upcoming 2024 Men’s T20 World Cup in the USA and West Indies but could also act as a de facto qualifier for the 2026 edition, depending on the outcomes of this year’s World Cup.
Currently, the three teams, along with Zimbabwe and Namibia, are vying for rankings to secure direct qualification for the 2026 T20 World Cup in Sri Lanka and India.
Each match at Voorburg could be crucial in this race.
Given the uncertainty surrounding the number of qualifying slots available at the next European regional qualifier, this series holds significant importance beyond just preparation.
It’s been almost five years since these three teams last competed in a trilateral T20 series, a format that seemed poised to become a staple of the European summer in the late 2010s.
Now, all three teams have new leadership: Scott Edwards leads the Dutch after taking over from Pieter Seelaar, Richie Berrington captains Scotland following Kyle Coetzer, and Paul Stirling resumes Ireland’s captaincy, a role previously held by Gary Wilson when the teams last met in Dublin in 2019.
Ireland emerged victorious in that encounter, while Scotland topped the table in the 2018 tri-series.
However, the Netherlands have had the most white-ball success recently, securing direct qualification for this year’s World Cup by finishing in the top eight of the 2022 edition and being the only associate team to qualify for the most recent 50-over World Cup.
The hosts will be without key players such as Roelof van der Merwe and Colin Ackermann, who will stay with their counties for the World Cup, and Fred Klaassen and Bas de Leede, who are unavailable for part of the series.
Ireland misses left-arm quick Josh Little due to IPL commitments, and visa issues forced Graham Hume’s late withdrawal.
Scotland will rest Jack Jarvis and Brandon McMullen due to minor injuries.
Despite these absences, all three teams will be mostly at full strength, ready for a final run-out before the World Cup with critical ranking points on the line.
The storied rivalry between these teams ensures no lack of motivation.
Originally set to be held at VRA’s ground in Amsterdam, the series was moved (despite VRA’s objections) to Voorburg CC’s Westvliet ground near The Hague due to drainage concerns following an unusually wet spring.
Voorburg’s hybrid wickets have handled the weather better, though scores at the ground have varied.
Recent club T20 matches saw almost 400 runs scored, but the recent Pro-Series matches suggest the pitch offers plenty for bowlers.
The weather forecast predicts a brief respite from the relentless rain to accommodate the series, with fair weather expected for the first half.
However, the rain is likely to return mid-week, making for an unsettled conclusion to the series.
Netherlands Squads:
| Player Name |
|---|
| Scott Edwards (Captain) |
| Wesley Barresi |
| Daniel Doram |
| Aryan Dutt |
| Sybrand Engel brecht |
| Vivian Kingma |
| Michael Levitt |
| Teja Nidamanuru |
| Max O’Dowd |
| Tim Pringle |
| Vikramjit Singh |
| Logan van Beek |
| Paul van Meekeren |
| Bas de Leede* |
| Fred Klaassen* |
Scotland Squads:
| Player Name |
|---|
| Richie Berrington (Captain) |
| Matthew Cross (WK) |
| Brad Currie |
| Chris Greaves |
| Oli Hairs |
| Jasper Davidson |
| Michael Leask |
| Gavin Main |
| George Munsey |
| Safyaan Sharif |
| Chris Sole |
| Charlie Tear (WK) |
| Mark Watt |
| Brad Wheal |
Ireland Squads:
| Player Name |
|---|
| Paul Stirling (Captain) |
| Mark Adair |
| Ross Adair |
| Andrew Balbirnie |
| Curtis Campher |
| Gareth Delany |
| George Dockrell |
| Fionn Hand |
| Barry McCarthy |
| Neil Rock |
| Harry Tector |
| Lorcan Tucker (WK) |
| Ben White |
| Craig Young |
*limited availability
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