Dutch cricket tries to follow the Kiwi route

Logan van Beek doesn't mind talking about his fond relationship with New Zealand. He wears a charming smile and fondly talks about his Netherlands captain Scott Edwards growing up in Australia. This Netherlands team has caused some ripples in world cricket. Well, South Africa have been their bunny opposition to say the least.For all the impressive cricket they have played in the last couple of years, Netherlands' cricket has largely been dependent on immigrants playing the game. This team has a host of players who played their formative cricket in South Africa, and a couple of players of Indian origin, besides Logan and Edwards."Scott is obviously probably grown up wanting to play for Australia. He still can play for Australia. What I've seen from Scott over the last few years, I firmly believe he would be a valuable asset to any Big Bash side going this summer. He has got that extra little motivation. And it's like me when I play in New Zealand. It's the same kind of feeling of, I just want to get one up over these guys," Logan put across a point.For a team that made its World Cup debut here in 1996, Netherlands have fallen behind teams like Afghanistan and Ireland. During an engaging media interaction here on Tuesday evening, Logan didn't miss out mentioning how a Dutch TV show in the morning ridiculed a Netherlands team playing in a cricket World Cup while referring the sport to a nine-to-five job. The media manager was quick to jump in to claim it was a 'comic show' and that he was just pleased that Logan could understand the language.Netherlands cricket is in search of an identity. These journeymen, who wear the orange jerseys, are forever fighting to bring in professionalism in the sport that could help them make a full-fledged career out of the sport. Logan, very proud of the domestic cricket he plays in New Zealand, declared that the evolution of New Zealand cricket is the template Netherlands hope to replicate."I look at how New Zealand were 20 years ago. I was only about 10 years old in New Zealand. But I remember that period, professional cricket actually started in 2000. And see where New Zealand are right now, and the way they play and the way they go about it. You know, we've got in the Netherlands just as many players, and I can't see why in the next five to 10 years we can't start being more consistent on the world stage," Logan claimed."There's the attention we're getting through our performances. 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. And that's all going to kind of have a flow on effect, come into more contracts, better facilities, more resources, more coaching," he added.The T20 format, the proliferating leagues to be precise, seems to be pivotal for these players. "Chasing Test status could hamper getting more players involved in the Netherlands. I think the beauty is, for me personally - like if the Netherlands had Test status, then I wouldn't be able to go back and play in New Zealand. Or guys like Colin Ackerman, they can't go play County cricket. (It is about) the more we can focus at this stage on the T20 and One Day cricket and give guys opportunity to play in other leagues," Logan said, straightforward.