Bakker named new Netherlands coach

Paul-Jan Bakker, the former Netherlands and Hampshire medium-pacer, has been appointed Peter Cantrell's successor as Netherlands' coach for the forthcoming season.

Though Cantrell's contract had expired, the national board had expressed their desire to keep him on. But with Netherlands performing so poorly in the 2007 World Cup - and citing difficulties in combining coaching with his full time job as a golf instructor - the board were forced to look elsewhere.

Bakker, 49 - who spends most of the year living in Switzerland - takes up his position on May 1 for the summer. Netherlands visit Canada in June for an Intercontinental Cup match and two one-dayers.