Netherlands: The Hoofdklasse hots up

The Dutch season is in full swing now. On saturday morning you will find the grounds occupied by kids playing their cricket. In the afternoon older youth, ladies, newcomers and veterans are active. And on Sunday from 11.00 hours the "big boys" are hitting (or try too) the ball out of the ground.

In the "hoofdklasse" the battle is on. Only Excelsior and VRA have maximum points after three (of 18) rounds. VOC (Rotterdam) lost its match against rival Excelsior in round 3. Catches still win matches and VOC did not take them and therefore lost this match. A Copra (Gandhi CC, Amsterdam) had the honour to score the first century in Hoofdklasse this year (103). That was a bit hard on Ahmed Zulfiqar who carried his bat through the innings in the openings round for 99 !

Meanwhile bonds coach Trotman announced his selection for the World Cup: JJ Esmeijer, S Gokke, L van Troost (Excelsior); R Bradley, R.van Oosterom (HBS); H Mol (Quick hg); A Khan, F.Kloppenburg (Rood & Wit); T. de Leede, A Zulfiqar (VCC); R.Levebvre, KJ van Noortwijk, R.Scholte (VOC); A Raja (VRA) and B.Zuiderent (Sussex). One player will miss out as only 14 men can be selected.

While the Dutch team is in Canada for the ICC Trophy their will be no "hoofdklasse" cricket. As most players are to allowed to play in lower teams a 8 a site competition is organized. Two groups of 5 will play on June 24 and July 1th. On each day they will play five games of seven overs each. The two best teams of each group will meet on the finals on September .2.

Cricket in Holland is not a big sport (yet) but sport it is and therefore taking "illegal substances" is not allowed. With the positive testing of soccer stars David's and the Boer the "test" people showed up on every "hoofdklasse" ground and took 20 samples. On of the players could not deliver straightaway and had to spend two hours in a separate room while his mates were having a beer! Life can be hard on the top!

As the Dutch cricket season is only around four months long, a lot of activity is put in a short period of time. One, by now, famous activity is 'Open Nederlandse Kampioenschappen Strand cricket' or in English 'The Open Dutch Beach Cricket championship'. This year the event will be held from September 7-9 on the wide sandy beaches of the island of Schiemonnikoog. A special cricket ferry will bring the teams (minimum of eight players) to the island where they will stay during the event. The matches are played on the beach. Each match is takes about two hours. A great way to finish the cricket season.