Logan van Beek wants Dutch to stop joking about Netherlands' cricket and take it seriously

Amid the excitement of the ongoing Cricket World Cup 2023, one topic has captured the attention of Netherlands all-rounder Logan van Beek: the sustainability and growth of cricket in his home country. Van Beek's concerns go beyond just money; he is striving for the day when cricket in the Netherlands is not just seen as a niche sport, but as a serious contender on the global stage.

3 things you need to know

• Netherlands will play against Australia in Delhi on October 25
• The Dutch side is seventh in the World Cup table with two points
• Netherlands have won one match and lost three in the tournament

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Netherlands Team wants to inspire next generation 

"I watched a Dutch sports show this morning, and they were talking about cricket and laughing about how it's pretty similar to a nine-to-five job because of how long it takes, and they were making a few other jokes," van Beek said on the eve of Australia vs Netherlands match in Delhi. "I hope that after another couple of wins, they can almost stop joking about cricket in the Netherlands and they start talking seriously about how this is actually one of our best sports teams in the country.

Netherlands have shown promising signs in this World Cup, with a notable win over South Africa and a challenging match against Sri Lanka. These performances are starting to gain attention, but van Beek wants more than just recognition. He hopes these victories will help shift the narrative around Dutch cricket and raise its profile within the country.

"There's the attention we're getting through our performances - through the style we're playing. Hopefully, there's more investment into the game from a local point of view, but also international sponsors want to get behind the Netherlands team," he said. "And that's all going to kind of have a flow-on effect and result in more contracts, better facilities, more resources, more coaching," Van Beek said.

Van Beek, who plays domestic cricket in New Zealand and England, believes that competing against better-resourced teams will elevate the game in the Netherlands and lead to increased professionalism. "I look at how New Zealand were 20 years ago. Professional cricket actually started around 2000. And see where New Zealand are right now, and the way they play and the way they go about it. We've got in the Netherlands just as many players, and I can't see why in the next five to ten years we can start being more consistent on the world stage."

He believes that the exposure Dutch players are getting in the World Cup could also make them more attractive to T20 franchises around the world. By participating in different leagues, players can gain valuable experience and bring it back to strengthen the Netherlands side.

"This year, I played T20 at Worcester, and played the [World Cup] qualifiers and I also play in Wellington," he said. "So, even at a smaller scale, I've played in four different leagues. Just that experience from all those different leagues - playing with different players and learning off them and then bringing it back to the Netherlands side only strengthens the team. So, I hope that there's a number of players from this tournament that will be able to play three or four leagues a year."

Netherlands' World Cup campaign has had its ups and downs, with one win and three losses so far, but van Beek remains resolute about their goal. "We've come here to reach the semi-finals," he said. "That's our goal. It's been pretty clear throughout the whole preparation phase. And the South African win just gave us that extra belief that the way we're playing at the moment, on our day we can still beat a good team."

Netherlands' journey in this World Cup symbolises a broader aspiration to transform cricket from an oddity into a mainstream sport within the country. As they continue to impress on the world stage, they hope to inspire the next generation of cricketers and change the perception of cricket in the Netherlands from a pastime to a sport that commands respect. The hope is to secure increased investments, better facilities, more resources, and improved coaching, paving the way for a sustainable future for cricket in the Netherlands.