Not your average Dutch cricketer

With 1,234 runs,48 wickets from 27 ODIs,Doeschates figures not match his teams minnows status.

When the 14 World Cup teams line-up at the opening ceremony at Mirpur on Thursday,it is unlikely that there will be many eyes following the Dutch cricketer Ryan ten Doeschate. But in case the all-rounders phenomenal figures of 1234 runs and 48 wickets from 27 ODIs best by any cricketer who has played more than 20 games had got the attention they deserve,many would have been seeking the Dutchman.

Though,Doeschate isnt bothered. I honestly never even expected that I would be playing cricket professionally, he says,almost embarrassed by his statistics. Every other day some of my team-mates ask me about those stats. Those figures are a little misleading. Because I play for the Netherlands,I got most of those runs and wickets against associate countries. I have only played three matches against Test playing countries.

Doeschate,though,wasnt born in Holland. He grew up in Cape Town,South Africa and played a variety of sports before he took to cricket. It was always my boyhood dream to play professional cricket. I think it was also mostly to the fact that I dreaded having an office job. He was soon to realize that he wasnt probably good enough to make the cut,even for my provincial side. With players like Jonathan Trott,Graeme Smith and Rory Kleinveldt all competing for place in the playing XI,Doeschate was always on the fringes of theWestern Province state side.

With cricketing ambitions not really shaping up,he decided to go in for a regular career after all. With the intention of getting into finance,he studied business,while playing club cricket in Cape Town. Then in 2003,he played a game against a touring Essex side from England,performing well enough to impress Graham Gooch who was the tourists coach.

He asked me if I wanted to play county cricket in England. Knowing I could always continue my studies later,I packed my bags and left. Ryan broke into the playing eleven two years later and cemented his place with explosive hitting and his wicket taking ability.

Dutch cricket happened around the same time . A visiting side was in Cape Town,they heard my name,thought it sounded Dutch and asked me if I wanted to play for them. It was as simple as that. I already had an EU passport. My dad has never played cricket,but if it wasnt for his being from Holland,I probably wouldnt have played international cricket either, he says.

Holland was a revelation. Cricket isnt the most popular sport. Its probably only the 25 th most popular game, he jokes. Its quite a small community out there- maybe 5000 people playing. We played on matting wickets,but there were always kids and families around. It was a completely carnival atmosphere.

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His highest first class score is an unbeaten 259 against Canada in the 2005 ICC intercontinental trophy,a knock he followed up with figures of 6/20. But his most memorable knock is rather puny in comparison an unbeaten 22. It came in the inaugural match of the 2009 ICC T20 championship that saw the Dutch pull off a last ball win against England. Its moments like these that keep you passionate about the game.

But Doeschates contribution to the team goes beyond numbers and innings. Dutch coach Peter Drinnen believes that the all-rounders first-class background brings something extra to the team.

The fact that he has serious county experience means that most players look to him for advice. Most of our players are city professionals. There are bankers,doctors and one is a manager at a Burger King, he says.