One can only hope that better sense prevails among the Dutch cricket administrators in favour of a solution to the present crisis. The current doldrums in the youth cricket presents a sorry picture of cricket in this second string European cricketing power.

The Dutch cricketers have made a name for themselves in the highest league, by qualifying for the ICC World Cups on three out of the last four occasions, however winning only one match, in 2003, against fellow ICC Associate Namibia. Feiko Kloppenburg and Klaas van Noortwijk achieved in the same match the thus far rare distinction of cricketers from ICC Associate member nations to score centuries World Cups. Again, Netherlands and Essex all-rounder Ryan ten Doeschate was in the run for ICC Associate ODI Player of the Year 2007. However, ignominy struck in the ICC World Cup 2007 when another all-rounder, Dan van Bunge became the first bowler to be hit for six sixes in an over in an international match. Another humiliation came earlier in 2006 when Sri Lanka posted the highest ever One-day batting total of 443 for 9 against them.

One can only hope that the Dutch cricket scenario will soon look as good as the VRA Ground, Amstelveen… administrators don’t play cricket, but they make the game happen, nonetheless.