The De Leede family dinner table is about to get a lot more interesting. Following in the historic footsteps of Tim (2003) and Bas (2022), captain Babette de Leede is ready to lead the Netherlands into their first-ever Women's T20 World Cup in England and Wales.
While it's a monumental milestone just to step onto the field, the Dutch side isn't treating this as a sightseeing tour. Babette has made her team's ambitions crystal clear: secure at least two group-stage victories, finish in the tournament's top eight, and lock in automatic qualification for the next World Cup cycle.
To pull off an upset against heavyweights like Australia and India, the Netherlands will rely on a mix of local experience and lethal bowling:
-
Iris Zwilling: The trailblazing pace spearhead who recently became the first-ever Dutch cricketer to scale the mountain of 100 T20I wickets. Her swing will be vital in English conditions.
-
Sterre Kalis: A powerhouse at No. 4 with nearly 2,000 T20I runs. Having played four seasons in The Hundred, her familiarity with English tracks is an invaluable asset.
-
Babette de Leede: The skipper herself is just three appearances away from becoming the most capped Dutch T20I player in history (male or female).
End of an Era: This tournament will also serve as a last dance for head coach Neil MacRae, who will vacate his role post-World Cup to take over as Jersey's Director of Cricket.
The ultimate test begins on June 14 at Edgbaston in a high-stakes opening clash against Bangladesh—a must-win match that will set the tone for the Oranje's historic campaign.