Ryan ten Doeschate back to boost Netherlands

HUW TURBERVILL: The Netherlands’ World Cup qualifying campaign suffered a lurch with defeat to Ireland, but at least they have been boosted by the return of Essex captain Ryan ten Doeschate

The Netherlands’ World Cup qualifying campaign suffered a lurch with defeat to Ireland, but at least they have been boosted by the return of Essex captain Ryan ten Doeschate.

The allrounder, still jubilant after leading his county to last summer’s County Championship, made 21 and bowled 4 overs, 0 for 26 in the 97-run loss (on Duckworth-Lewis) at Harare.

The South African-born 37-year-old spent six years away from his adopted country, but returned just before Christmas.

"That had a lot to do with the T20 being cancelled in South Africa,” he told The Cricketer. 

"After a two-month break I was certainly ready to play cricket, that was as long a break as I had. They wanted a bit of help in qualifying positions (they won the World Cricket League Championship, thus qualifying for the ICC’s new ODI League), and I thought it would be nice to give it a go again.

^{Ten Doeschate batting in the Royal London One-Day Cup semi-final against Notts}

"I had a great time in Dubai [he played two games, both against Namibia, winning both to qualify]. I had left because I did not enjoy the environment, pretty much, and it turned out in the little time that I was there that it had changed a lot.

"I am going to try and fit games in for them when I can as long as it doesn’t detract from what I am trying to do here at Essex. They have a new coach [Ryan Campbell], and only three guys left when I played there. 

"I think Associate cricket has moved a long way since 2011. In general all the teams – and I do not know if it is something the ICC has addressed – but the guys are more ambitious in themselves.

"Being there in those few games, it felt that the intensity had got a lot closer to first-class cricket.

^{County Champions}

"In Zimbabwe there are two qualifying spots, Super Six phase, very little room for slip-ups. Going forward, everything will be weighing up how I am feeling with my body, what is going on at Essex… it is not ideal to pop in and out of a team, but if they are happy, and they want my help, I am quite happy to that."

Ten Doeschate also played in the Hong Kong T20 Blitz. 

"Hong Kong was great but the cricket itself was a bit of a challenge – my team [Hong Kong Island United] did not do very well.

"But there is a lot to be said in terms of the competition and about what it is doing for local cricket. I think it has improved drastically in the three years I have known it.

"I don’t know if you have been there, but it is a fantastic place to visit, a world-class city, and I had a nice few days.”

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