"Indian Net Bowlers Needed": Netherlands Cricket Board's Ad Ahead Of Cricket World Cup 2023

The Netherlands cricket board is looking for Indian net bowlers for their preparations ahead of Cricket World Cup 2023. A social media advertisement was posted by the Dutch board in order to find the bowlers ahead of the preparation camp in Alur, Karnataka. This was yet another example of the gulf in resources when it comes to established sides and associate nations. The camp will take place between September 20-24 and the social media post stated that they were looking for multiple options.

While it is a convention (not a rule) for local state associations (Karnataka State Cricket Association in this case) to provide net bowlers for visiting teams, the Dutch cricket board, in a first of its kind advertisement on 'X', formerly twitter, has sought one left-arm seamer, right arm seamer, mystery spinner and a left-arm spinner for their five-day pre-Cup camp in Alur from September 20-24.

The Netherlands squad led by Australia-born Scott Edwards had come to Bengaluru in August for a short three-day acclimatisation camp but it is understood unlike some of the other teams, including hosts India, Netherland cricket doesn't have enough depth in domestic cricket or resources to have travelling net bowlers accompanying the team.

For any cricket fan, the contrast will be evident if one reads two of the eight criteria listed to become Netherland World Cup squad's net bowler.

The pacers need to bowl above 120 kmph (75 miles per hour) and spinners, who are able to give it a tweak at a minimum 80 kmph (50 miles per hour).

They have demanded videos with aspirants bowling minimum one over with clear trajectory of the deliveries visible. Their travel, stay and meals during the camp would be taken care by the Royal Netherlands Cricket