'Guys will be hurting': Ryan Cook after Australia crush Netherlands' spirit at World Cup 2023

Netherlands' World Cup 2023 dreams took a significant hit as they suffered a crushing defeat at the hands of Australia, leaving their aspirations for a semi-final spot hanging by a thread. The Dutch team had displayed promise with an early upset win against South Africa, igniting hopes of a meaningful campaign in the tournament. However, their latest performance against Australia exposed their vulnerabilities.

3 things you need to know

• Netherlands were bundled out for 90 while chasing 400 runs 
• Ryan Cook identified the shortcomings that contributed to the defeat 
• Cook urged Netherlands to seize even the half-chances against star players

ALSO READ: How IPL helped Glenn Maxwell shatter World Cup record?

Australia put up a formidable total of 399/8, with Netherlands failing to find answers in the bowling department. Their response was dismal, as they were bundled out for a meager 90 runs in just 21 overs. The stark contrast between their pre-match optimism and the reality of the game was evident.

Ryan Cook, the coach of the Dutch side, expressed his disappointment, acknowledging the pain in the changing room. He highlighted the disparity between their pre-match aspirations and their actual performance, emphasising the need for consistent execution of their game plans to compete with top-tier teams like Australia.

"The guys will be hurting in the changing room, for sure," Cook said during the post-match press conference. "We talked a good game before the game, and we didn't play a good game of cricket. We didn't execute our plans quite like we wanted to and then the fight that we have shown in lots of the matches - we saw only glimpses of that.

"We need to play better cricket for a lot longer if we're going to compete with teams like Australia. Resilience is something as I say we pride ourselves on as a team. We'll be able to get back up for the next game and learn our lessons from that."

Ryan Cook wants Netherlands to seize half-chances

Cook identified their inconsistency in the field as a contributing factor to their defeat, despite some outstanding diving stops. An expensive dropped catch off Glenn Maxwell's bat, when he was on 26, proved costly. Teja Nidamanuru, running back from mid off, could not hold on to the catch off the bowling of Paul van Meekeren.

Cook stressed the importance of seizing even half-chances against formidable players to improve their chances of victory. "When these types of players give you chances, even if they're half chances, you do have to take them to be able to give yourself a good chance of victory," said Cook.

After an early flurry of boundaries from Vikramjit Singh, who scored a run-a-ball 25, the rest of the batting lineup crumbled swiftly. The lackluster performance with the bat left Netherlands with more questions than answers.

Netherlands must regroup, learn from their mistakes, and rediscover their fighting spirit to bounce back in the upcoming matches. The road to the semi-finals is challenging, but the Dutch team is determined to prove they are more than just participants in this World Cup.