Ten Doeschate bids for success

Ryan ten Doeschate in action for Essex © Getty Images

Essex all-rounder Ryan ten Doeschate has set his sights on achieving victory with the Netherlands in the ICC World Cricket League, which got underway in Kenya on Monday.

Having already qualified for the ICC World Cup, which begins in March, the Netherlands are now aiming for a place in the inaugural ICC Twenty20 World Championships.

Qualification for the final of the six-team World Cricket League would secure one of two spots up for grabs for September’s 20-over tournament in South Africa.

The 10-day competition in Kenya will also serve as a World Cup warm-up for the six associate nations, with each 50-overs-per-side match holding one-day international status.

26-year-old ten Doeschate has shone in recent times for a Dutch side bidding to make their mark on the short form of the game.

"We have been working very hard to get the formula right," he said. “We were on a recent tour to Pretoria and we devised a formula for one-day cricket that we think is going to work for us.

"I think we learned a lot from the ICC Trophy. Ireland and Scotland had obviously moved ahead and we had started to stagnate a little bit. Now I think we are back on track and we have been putting in some strong performances.

"We certainly want to get to the final of the World Cricket League (and therefore qualify for the inaugural ICC Twenty20 World Championships in South Africa in September).

“That may sound optimistic because the favourites will probably be Kenya, Scotland and Ireland for the two final spots, but we think we have what it takes to get there."

As one of the stars of last year’s ICC Intercontinental Cup, when he scored a total of 686 runs in five matches, at an average of 228.66, ten Doeschate arrives in Kenya as one of his side’s key players.

The Netherlands start their campaign on Tuesday against Canada – the first of five group matches in seven days – with the final scheduled for Sunday February 7.