Can the #Netherlands Trigger #Cricket Interest in Europe?

Blackcaps captain, Brendon McCullum, has called the Dutch his type of cricketers, saying that he admires their never die trying traits which almost saw them upset world number one South Africa in the ICC World Twenty20 the other night.

Indeed, he is not the only admirer of the Oranje who have been quite entertaining at this year's ICC World Twenty20 - making up for the disappointment of failing to qualify for next year's Cricket World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, and losing their associate status as a result to the likes of Scotland and the United Arab Emirates.

Despite that setback in the 50 over game, Dutch cricket is enjoying a bit of a blue period on the back of their Twenty20 success. Their team, as ever is made out of Australian, South African and New Zealand born cricketers of Dutch heritage who are unable to make their own national sides, e.g. Tom Cooper who plays for South Australia and Logan van Beek who plays for Canterbury.

Logan van Beek (left) celebrating with Blackcaps Peter Fulton and Dean Brownlie

Expect Dutch cricket to continue along this vein although the game is definitely growing back in the Netherlands with more locally bred cricketers now representing their country.

The Netherlands, along with Ireland and Scotland are probably the countries in Europe leading the ICC's big wave of spreading the game globally, with the Dutch being the best cricketing nation based on the European continent proper, streets ahead of the rest where cricket is very much a minority sport played by expats.

Amstelveen near Amsterdam - home of Dutch cricket

Amsterdam - the next home of test cricket - wouldn't that be sweet?

The Netherlands' proximity to the United Kingdom, its access to its descendants in the Southern Hemisphere and the country's knack of being different as well as good at any sport, definitely puts them at an advantage and the ICC should consider the Dutch and their form in the Twenty20 version of the game as the key to triggering cricket in the rest of Europe.

Could the Netherlands be to cricket what Kenya is to rugby sevens? It's quite possible and the foundations are very much there.

It would be great to see the Dutch bring their flair and beautiful orange-clad fans to the game of cricket!

The Netherlands' fanbase