Edwards steps down as Netherlands captain

Fast-bowling all-rounder Bas de Leede will take over for the remainder campaign

Scott Edwards has stepped down as captain of the Netherlands men’s cricket team after leading the side for more than three years, bringing an end to a tenure that included memorable victories at the 2023 ODI World Cup and steady progress in the ICC Cricket World Cup League 2.

The 29-year-old wicketkeeper-batter announced his decision to teammates following the conclusion of the Utrecht leg of the Cricket World Cup League 2 on Friday, saying he wanted to focus on contributing more as a player. Fast-bowling all-rounder Bas de Leede will take over the captaincy for the remainder of the League 2 campaign.

Edwards was appointed captain in June 2022 after replacing Pieter Seelaar during England’s tour of the Netherlands. Under his leadership, the Dutch played 56 One-Day Internationals, winning 24 and losing 29, while continuing to establish themselves as one of the leading Associate nations in international cricket.

“I feel like I’ve got so much more to offer as a player,” Edwards said in a video released by the Royal Dutch Cricket Association (KNCB). “This is such a special group and I think the world’s our oyster. It’s been a massive honour for me and I love wearing the orange.”

Edwards said the decision had been under consideration for some time and felt the timing was right, adding that he did not want the captaincy issue to distract the squad during the ongoing series.

His tenure featured some of the most significant results in Dutch cricket history, including a stunning victory over South Africa in Dharamsala and another win against Bangladesh in Kolkata during the 2023 ODI World Cup in India. Those performances reinforced the Netherlands’ reputation for upsetting higher-ranked opponents on the global stage.

The team also enjoyed notable success in Twenty20 Internationals under Edwards. He captained the Netherlands in 50 T20Is, guiding them to memorable wins over Zimbabwe and South Africa at the 2022 T20 World Cup in Australia. The victory against South Africa proved particularly significant as it eliminated the Proteas from the tournament and sent shockwaves through international cricket.

Edwards’ calm leadership and tactical approach earned praise from teammates, who credited him with helping build confidence within the squad and creating an environment where players could thrive.

De Leede, widely regarded as one of the Netherlands’ finest cricketers, thanked Edwards for his contribution after being named the new captain.

“You’ve led us into some really cool battles over the years,” De Leede said. “Even when some of us didn’t believe in ourselves, you made us believe in the plan and in our own abilities. It wasn’t just about setting the team up for success, but also giving individuals the confidence to perform.”

The 26-year-old all-rounder said he was looking forward to leading Edwards on the field and hoped to build on the foundations laid during his predecessor’s tenure.

The captaincy change comes at an important stage of the Netherlands’ qualification campaign for the 2027 ODI World Cup. The Dutch currently sit second in the Cricket World Cup League 2 standings behind the United States, placing them in a strong position to qualify for the World Cup Qualifier. The top four teams at the end of the League 2 competition will progress to the next stage of qualification.

The Netherlands still have a crucial series remaining later this year against Oman and the United Arab Emirates, fixtures that could prove decisive in determining their final position in the standings.

Despite stepping aside as captain, Edwards is expected to remain a key figure in the Dutch setup. As one of the team’s most experienced players and a dependable presence behind the stumps and in the middle order, he will continue to play an important role as the Netherlands pursue qualification for the 2027 World Cup under De Leede’s leadership.