Noah Croes admits he still pinches himself when he considers representing the Netherlands on the international stage, but growing up alongside the captain has made it simpler for him to adjust. Croes, who is 23 years old, could make his international debut for the Netherlands at the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Qualifier 2023, where he has been called up to the senior squad for the first time.
And the fact that he played amateur cricket alongside Dutch captain Scott Edwards in Australia has aided his integration into the squad. “One of Scott’s greatest qualities is that he leads by example. “Having played with him and grown up with him, I can say that he is a very deep thinker, he thinks a lot about the game, and he is a very good tactician,” he said.
“It’s wonderful to perform with him once more. It’s been six or seven years since we were at Richmond, but now that we’re training together and running exercises, it feels like we’re back there. He has matured significantly and is doing an excellent job. To me, he is still Scott; he is not the Dutch commander. This is excellent, and he has facilitated it. He continually encourages me to continue expressing myself, thereby boosting my confidence,” he continued.
Noah Croes was raised in Melbourne, however he was born in Amsterdam to a Dutch father who raised him bilingually.
The keeper-batsman’s Australian accent while speaking Dutch has earned him a few light-hearted jabs from his teammates, but he is savouring this opportunity in Zimbabwe, which he owes to Scott Edwards.
“I contacted Scott and inquired, ‘What do you think? How is the ecosystem? Noah Croes, who has played amateur cricket for Voorburg in The Hague, responded, “What do you think, is it worth coming over?”
“He said it was a no-brainer and told me to come over, and everything has transpired rapidly since our conversation. I’m back at the same club I played for in 2019, which feels very familiar, and I was able to play well at the beginning of the year and was selected, which is great.
“It was a complete surprise. If you had asked me three months ago if I would be playing qualifiers in Zimbabwe, I would have said it was a fantasy. It’s been an amazing experience, so I’m just taking it all in.
On Tuesday, the 23-year-old had the opportunity to face Sri Lanka in a warm-up match, which was a special occasion for him. Now, the objective is to get off to a fast start against the hosts on June 20, with Noah Croes confident that the Netherlands can cause some surprises.
“We are confident that the team’s chemistry, self-assurance, and desired playing style will stand up at this tournament. The great part about our team is that we are so adaptable, and many of us play different roles that complement one another. And we have a large number of fit men. “It’s funny how tournaments like this work; if you get on a roll, things start to happen, so I’m hoping we can hit our stride on the 20th against Zimbabwe and keep the momentum going,” he said. “We know it’s going to be difficult, as we’ll be playing against a number of strong cricket teams, but the mood is great.”
Netherlands
Why they qualify?
The Netherlands, who are a part of the 2020-2023 ICC Cricket World Cup Super League, have won just three of their 24 matches and must now navigate the Qualifier.
World Cup statistics
In 1996, the Netherlands qualified for their first ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup and have since participated in four more.
They have not advanced beyond the group stage and are attempting to make their first appearance since 2011.
One to observe
The Netherlands are lacking a number of their top players due to county obligations in the United Kingdom, but they will be relieved that Bas de Leede is not among them.
Recently, he dismissed Jos Buttler and Liam Livingstone in the same match for Durham against Lancashire, continuing his impressive domestic form in the Vitality Blast.
When do they perform?
On June 20, Netherlands will face Zimbabwe, followed by USA (June 22), Nepal (June 24), and West Indies (June 26).
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