As cricket
continues to spread around the world, more and more superstars have begun to
emerge from less-traditional cricketing nations, not just the 12 sides with
test status.
T20 franchise
competitions give players the chance to play cricket professionally without
representing their nations. Some of the larger white ball competitions attract
the very best players and coaches in the world and give players from any
country the chance to play cricket at an exceptionally high level.
Increasing
numbers of international white ball fixtures for smaller cricketing nations
have also helped cricketers that play for countries without test status to compete
on the global stage.
While a
large number of cricketers that play for the emerging nations may never be able
to create a full time career from playing the sport they love, some have the
skill, talent and perhaps luck to do so and a few players that represent more
minor cricketing nations are among the best in the world.
Ryan Ten
Doeschate
Not just one
of the best all-rounders to play for a non-test playing nation, but one of the
best all-rounders to play cricket this century. His batting average of 67 in
ODIs is higher than that of Kholi or Tendulkar and Ten Doeschate is handy with
the ball too, averaging 24 in ODIs and 33 in first class cricket.
Brutal
batting and sharp bowling earned him an Indian Premier League (IPL) contract in
2011, becoming just the second Dutch player to earn one, and he went on to play
for the Kolkata Knight Riders for five years.
It is a
great shame he never got the chance to play test cricket; Ten Doeschate has
excelled playing first class cricket for Essex in the English County
championship, he captained the side to the league title on two occasions and
surely would have thrived on the international stage playing cricket’s longest
format, but the Netherlands are yet to be awarded test status.
Kyle Coetzer
Hailing from
a family of cricketers (his uncle played first class cricket in South Africa), Kyle
Coetzer has become one of Scotland’s most celebrated cricketers; his talent on
the cricket pitch has earned him an honour from Queen Elizabeth II as well as
other accolades, including associate player of the year.
In Scottish
colours Coetzer has enjoyed a vast amount of success, he has captained the side
on numerous occasions and was instrumental in Scotland’s first ODI win against
a full member nation. Coetzer also helped them to triumph against bitter rivals
England back in 2018.
Sandeep
Lamichhane
It is fair
to say that Sandeep Lamichhane is not your ordinary 19 year old. Although only being
a teenager, he has already reached heights that many cricketers can only dream
of.
In 2016, his
talent caught the eye of Australia legend and former captain Michael Clarke,
who helped mentor the young spinner and gave him the chance to play grade
cricket in Sydney, one of the most well-renowned city based cricket leagues in
the world.
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| Former Australian batsman and captain Michael Clarke |
At just 16,
he earned a call up for Nepal and his accuracy paired with multiple well
disguised variations earned him a reputation as being one of the best young
wrist spinners going. A reputation impressive enough to earn him an IPL call
up, giving him the chance to play in the world’s number one domestic cricket
tournament, only a year after his international debut.
Since then
the young leggie has had numerous contracts thrown his way from teams in the
world’s premier T20 franchise competitions, such as the Big Bash and Caribbean Premier
League just to name a couple.
His bowling
average of 18.21 in T20s is ridiculously low, but what is perhaps most amazing
about this young cricketer is that he has so much cricket left to play, so many
new stories to write.
Saurabh
Netravalkar
Born in
Mumbai, Netravalkar originally played for the India Under 19’s with whom he enjoyed
great success; he was their most prolific wicket taker in the side’s 2010 Under
19 World cup campaign.
Knowing that
his chances of locking down a place in the Indian senior side were slim, he ended
up playing for the USA and he has gone on to captain the States to ODI status.
His ability
to get seam movement as well as his tall height make him a dangerous bowler,
capable of terrorising any unwary batsman with the new ball.
Away from
cricket he is a qualified engineer and has worked for technology giant Oracle.
Big up my gee Ryan ten doeschate. Remember da geeza in 2011 world cup. India won that one. By getting more runs unlike England. bloody cheats. Dharmasena rigged it .
ReplyDeleteRyan Ten Doeschate had an absolutely fantastic World Cup in 2011, scoring two hundreds, including a magnificent 119 against the English.
DeleteHe is the only one who has appeared in the IPL. Ryan is a quality batsman and can chuck a few offies in there
Delete