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Dutch international batsman Daan van Bunge will return to Dutch domestic cricket next season and will play for the Schiedam Hoofdklasse club Excelsior �20. After three years with the MCC Young Cricketers, during which he scored a record 3,400 runs, he has not gained a county contract and has decided to prepare for the World Cup by playing full-time in The Netherlands.

A product of Voorburg CC, van Bunge has turned out for them occasionally during his sojourn at Lords. But at Excelsior he will strengthen a side weakened by the loss of fellow-international Billy Stelling, Chris Smith, Eric Dulfer and Carl Schewe. The Schiedam club were national champions five times in seven years between 1991 and 1997 and again in 2000 and 2004, and will undoubtedly mount a serious challenge for the title in 2006.

Van Bunge will work as youth coach at the club as well as assuming a key position in the Hoofdklasse side, where his leg spin may also cause opponents some problems.