Doeschate gives Dutch courage

Ryan ten Doeschate will carry Holland's hopes © Getty Images

Ryan ten Doeschate is one of three players in Holland's squad of World Cup hopefuls who ought already be known to English cricket followers.

The Essex bowling all-rounder is joined by Bas Zuiderent, formerly of Sussex and who made a World Cup half-century against England back in 1996, and Alex Kervezee - the 17-year-old Dutch prodigy set to join Worcestershire this summer.

Of the three, Zuiderent's star may be slightly on the wane as he approaches his 30s - while Kervezee has done enough already in domestic cricket in Holland to suggest he could be a major player about to announce himself from an unlikely source.

South Africa-born ten Doeschate, however, is the one with the right sort of statistics already on the board - both for Essex and Holland.

His Dutch parentage has helped to open doors for ten Doeschate in English cricket, where his availability as a European citizen - rather than an overseas player - was obviously a big plus for Essex.

The 26-year-old has cashed in admirably, though, and it is his improvement as a big-hitting batsman which has kept him in the frame when his first-string pace bowling was beginning to look vulnerable at times against top-class players.

Bas Zuiderent will bring his experience to the Dutch team's line up © Getty Images

It is a package which has helped him become a regular in the Essex Eagles side, who have won back-to-back totesport National League titles.

The same talents were evident too when ten Doeschate set an Intercontinental Cup record by smashing an unbeaten 259 for Holland against Canada in Pretoria late last year.

True to type, ten Doeschate hit 28 fours and five sixes from 314 balls - outdoing a competition best set only two weeks earlier by new Glamorgan captain David Hemp, playing for his native Bermuda.

Hemp's innings of 247 came against Holland - an indication of the challenge facing ten Doeschate if he and his international team-mates are to have much say in the outcome of the World Cup this spring.

They face Australia, South Africa and Scotland in Group A - and if they are to make a name for themselves in St Kitts they will doubtless be looking to their English-based contingent to lead the way.

Kervezee's time may be yet to come; some of Zuiderent's best moments could be behind him - but ten Doeschate has the chance to make the most of a big stage.