Pieter Seelaar

Pieter Marinus Seelaar (born 2 July 1987) is a Dutch cricketer. He is a right-handed batsman and a left-arm orthodox spin bowler. Having played for The Netherlands at Under-15, Under-17 and Under-19 level, he made his senior debut in a C&G Trophy game against Warwickshire on 3 May 2005. He then played in the ICC Trophy later that year. He made his One Day International debut against Sri Lanka on 6 July 2006. Two years later he made his Twenty20 International debut.

Career

The 2008 ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier was hosted by Ireland, the pre-tournament favourites. Of the six teams participating, the tournament marker the first time four of them played Twenty20 Internationals (T20I) including the Netherlands. The opening match between the Netherlands and Kenya nine of the Netherlands' players, including Seelaar, were playing not just their first T20I, but their first twenty20 match.^[1][2] Seelaar took two wickets while conceding 59 runs,^[3] and after rain prevent the final from being held the title was shared between Ireland and the Netherlands, both of whom qualified for the 2009 World Twenty20 in England.^[4]

In April 2009 a qualifying tournament for the 2011 World Cup was held. It allowing Associate and Affiliate members of the ICC a chance to qualify for the World Cup, and the Netherlands was amongst the successful teams.^[5] Seelaar picked up seven wickets from eight matches, on average each costing over fifty runs.^[6] In June, the Netherlands participated in the World T20 in England. Though the Netherlands did not progress beyond the first round,^[7] they beat England in the opening match of the tournament, and ancheivement hailed by captain Jeroen Smits as "Without doubt, the biggest day in Dutch cricket history".^[8] Seelaar took three wickets in the Netherlands' two matches whilst conceding 69 runs.^[9]

The England Cricket Board launched a new one-day competition, the Clydesdale Bank 40, in 2010. As well as the 18 first-class teams from England and Wales, two overseas teams were invited to participate. The Netherlands and Scotland made up the final two teams.^[10] The Netherlands lost all but two of their twelve matches; they won one and the other was ended in no result.^[11] Seelaar was the Netherlands' leading wicket-taker in the competition with 13 dismissals at an average of 28.46 and best figures of 3 for 31 (3/31).^[12]

Seelaar was included in the Netherlands' 15-man squad for the 2011 World Cup.^[13] Losing all six of their matches, the Netherlands exited in the first round.^[14] Seelaar was the team's leading wicket-taker in the competition with eight wickets for 306 runs.^[15] Later that year the Netherlands took part in the 2011 Clydesdale Bank 40. They improved on the results of the previous year, winning five and tying one of their twelve matches.^[16] Seelaar took seven wickets at an average of 50.00.^[17]

Ten teams participated in the 2011–12 Caribbean Twenty20: seven from the Caribbean and three foreign teams chosen by invitation. The three foreign teams were Canada (who had played in the previous two editions of the tournament), while the Netherlands and Sussex County Cricket Club replaced the two teams that had taken part the previous year.^[18] Seelaar was included in the 14-man squad and took three wickets at an average of 20.66.^[19] It was believed that the Caribbean Twenty20, held in January 2012, would provide good preparation for the Netherlands' participation in the 2012 ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier in March.^[20] The UAE hosted the qualifying tournament, and though the Netherlands made it to the preliminary finals they lost to Ireland and did not qualify for the World Twenty20 later that year,^[21] with Seelaar contributing eight wickets from nine matches.^[22]

References

External links

• CricketArchive profile
• Cricinfo profile

v t e Netherlands squad – 2009 ICC World Twenty20 03 Nannes 6 Nijman 7 Bukhari 8 Jonkman 9 Schiferli 10 Smits (c) 13 Szwarczynski 16 Reekers 19 van Bunge 23 Seelaar 27 ten Doeschate 33 Zuiderent 83 Borren 85 Kervezee 99 de Grooth Coach: Drinnen

v t e Netherlands squad – 2011 Cricket World Cup 2 Barresi 3 Seelaar 4 Raja 7 Bukhari 13 Szwarczynski 21 Kruger 26 Cooper 27 ten Doeschate 33 Zuiderent 53 Westdijk 79 Loots 82 Buurman 83 Borren (c) 85 Kervezee 99 de Grooth Coach: Drinnen