Dutch women to play in men's league as World Cup warmup

The Netherlands team for 2000 CricInfo Women's World Cup will probably have more match practice together than any of the other seven teams taking part in New Zealand at the end of this year. They have entered their team in a local men's club competition.

Playing as the "Dames XI", the Netherlands womens team will take part in 2B1 division, which is one of the lower grades of Dutch men's cricket. Their first match in the eight-team competition will be against Bloemendaal 2 this Sunday.

In addition to their fourteen-match season in 2B1, the Dutch team will play three games against the England Development Squad at Oundle School in England on August 8, 9 and 10.

The preliminary Netherlands squad of 25 is: Pauline te Beest (capt), Teuntje de Boer, Martika Flieringa, Sabine Groot, Jolet Hartenhof, Yvette Hendrikse, Leonie Hoitink, Jiska Howard, Iris Jharap, Maartje Köster, Sandra Kottman, Helmien Rambaldo, Elise Reynolds, Caroline Salomons, Annemarie Tanke, Carly Verheul, Birgit Viguurs, Arriëtte van Noortwijk, Tessa van de Gun. Coach: Greg Curtain. Manager: Betty Timmer. Physiotherapist: Margreet Mol.

The final squad of fifteen will be chosen after the conclusion of the 2B1 season in late August.

Netherlands, Australia, New Zealand and India have all named their preliminary squads for the World Cup of between 25 and 35 players. England, Ireland, South Africa and Sri Lanka are expected to make announcements later in the year. England are hosting South Africa for a five-ODI series at the end of June, while Ireland will be hosts to Pakistan, who did not qualify for this year's World Cup, at the end of July.