Former South Africa & RCB player Roelof van der Merwe aims for star turn for Netherlands against his former team | Cricket-world-cup News

As early as the mid-17th century, Cape Town would act as a refreshment outpost for the Dutch East India Company (VOC), supplying them with fresh fruits, vegetables and meat on their way to Asia, and give weary sailors an opportunity to recuperate. Almost four centuries later, the trade route is still operational with the United Nations Comtrade database confirming US$6.02 billion worth of South Africa’s exports to the Netherlands in the year 2022. As the two countries face off in the World Cup on Tuesday, it is fitting that the Dutch’s marquee player has South African roots.
Roelof van der Merwe, who arrived on the international stage as a Protea, switched shirts in 2015, and is finally living his dream of playing in world cricket’s biggest tournament. He recalls his early visits to India courtesy the IPL and a tour he missed out on with the South African team in 2011.
“It’s been a while since the IPL days but just thinking back on that, at the time in 2011, I was pretty disappointed not to have made the 50-overs World Cup team that year,” says van der Merwe before sighing in relief on “the opportunity that has finally come”.
Roelof van der Merwe in action for South Africa(Reuters )
For someone who was part of two South African T20 World Cup squads and the Royal Challengers Bangalore franchise that made it to the 2009 IPL final, why the shift to Dutch cricket though?
“Obviously, my mom’s Dutch. That’s where my gravitation to play for Holland comes from. At the time of making the decision to switch, there wasn’t much opportunity for me to break into the South Africa team. At that time, it was the best decision for my family,” says van der Merwe, who played his last game for South Africa in June 2010.
Playing against his former side makes little difference to the spin bowling all-rounder’s pre-game psyche. “It drags the same weight for me. I don’t think it’ll be any more special than any other team. We’re looking to win the game.”
Even though the Dutch have lost their first two games of the tournament, van der Merwe believes a favourable result is possible on Tuesday. Not just because Afghanan have managed to topple world champions England, but also because of the recent hory between the two teams. Van der Merwe remembers the afternoon in Adelaide less than a year ago when he pouched a spectacular catch of David Miller to set in motion a T20 World Cup knockout punch to the Proteas. Any texts from former South Africa teammates afterwards?
“I did not receive any. It was a good win for us and a tough day for them. There weren’t any funny exchanges and…. it’s better that way,” says van der Merwe, further suggesting that win worked wonders as far as the confidence of his current teammates is concerned.Most Read
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Cricket? Hopefully, a little bit longer
The Dutch international believes his longevity on the international stage is due to a childlike enthusiasm for the sport, even at 38. It might also be the prospect of completing unfinished business of playing in an ODI World Cup that’s kept van der Merwe going, especially as he missed out on the 2011 edition in India. Or, it may be something about his role with the ball.
“Everyone said left-arm spin won’t play a big role in 50-overs cricket but as we see, left-arm spin or finger-spin in general just offers something different to the mystery spin or your wr spinners. For more control in the game and holding things together. There’s a massive part to play for them and we’ve seen at this World Cup with (Mitchell) Santner, (Ravindra) Jadeja and Shakib (al Hasan)…. they’re all still very competitive and taking wickets.”
But there’s also the bigger picture.
“If we look at cricket in South Africa, it’s well developed and we’ve got a lot of numbers playing it. In the Netherlands, it’s still developing into a big sport. I think from the players’ side, all we can keep doing is going to the World Cups and performing. Hopefully, the next generation picks up on it and we can grow the game further in the Netherlands,” he says.