The nominations for Dutch Player of the Year take both international and domestic performances into account, and they are confined to players who were qualified to play for the Netherlands under ICC rules. Overseas player-coaches such as Excelsior’s Ed Cowan and HCC’s Johann Myburgh are therefore excluded, as are a few others who would otherwise have been strong candidates, such as Usman Malik (Excelsior) and Shahbaz Bashir (Rood en Wit), neither of whom is currently qualified to play for the Dutch side.

 

Wesley Barresi (VRA)

 

2010 was Barresi’s breakthrough year: he had his best season for VRA, and when he got his opportunity in the national side he grasped it with both hands. He was one of only four players – all of them from the same club – who made 1000 runs in the season when the national team’s matches are combined with the Topklasse, finishing with 1046 at an average of 29.89. His undefeated 64 against Bangladesh was in some ways the most significant innings of the summer. He also impressed behind the stumps, challenging Atse Buurman for the wicketkeeping spot in the Dutch side.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Peter Borren (VRA)

 

Captain  of both the national side and the winners of the domestic double, Borren maintained his reputation as an outstanding allrounder as well as an effective skipper. He made 1013 runs over the season, 375 of them in the Topklasse (at an average of 31.25), took 41 wickets at 34.88, and held a remarkable 30 catches, 15 of them in the domestic competition where he was the leading catcher apart from wicketkeepers.  His finest innings was his fighting 109 against Scotland in the Intercontinental Cup match in Deventer.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Daan van Bunge (Excelsior ’20)

 

Having decided to make his club commitments his number one cricketing priority, Van Bunge was the leading run-scorer in the Topklasse among Dutch-produced players, making 634 runs at an average of 48.86 and finishing seventh in the national averages. His Excelsior side led the championship throughout the summer, only falling at the final hurdle when they lost the final to VRA, and Van Bunge’s captaincy played a big part in their success. He bowled less than in previous years, but still took 11 wickets with his leg spin, at 29.27.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tom Cooper (VRA)

 

A controversial participant in the Topklasse, Cooper proved his worth both for VRA and for the Dutch side, his 1448 runs at 49.93 far and away the highest tally of the season. 614 of those runs came in the Topklasse, and he was a crucial factor in keeping the eventual champions in touch with the leaders during the middle part of the competition. The high point of his summer was the World Cricket League Division 1 championship, where he made 408 runs at 68.00 and was declared Player of the Tournament.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mohsin Ghaznavi (ACC)

 

In one-day cricket economy rates can be as significant as strike rates, and ACC skipper Ghaznavi had the distinction of being the only bowler in the Topklasse to concede fewer than three runs per over. His 18 wickets cost 20.50 each, but that economy rate of 2.99 – helped, admittedly, by a home pitch which was often bowler-friendly – made him one of the most effective bowlers in the competition. He proved his worth in the national A side as well, taking 10 wickets in the European Championships in Jersey, including five for 50 against Scotland A.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Erik Hartong (Hermes-DVS)

 

A largely unsung hero of the Hermes seam attack, Hartong claimed 33 wickets in the Topklasse in 2010 at an average cost of 14.00 – only Excelsior’s Usman Malik took more. It took him to sixth place in the averages, and he played a large part in his side’s finishing second after the first phase and  third overall. Steady and accurate, he was the mainstay of the attack, giving away just 3.32 in each of his 139 overs.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Henk-Jan Mol (Quick Haag)

 

In an unhappy summer for Quick, captain Mol often stood alone as the batting crumbled around him, and kept his side battling to the end. Although he hit only one half-century, his 423 runs came at an average of 30.21, and he also claimed 19 wickets at 23.47. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nick Statham (Hermes-DVS)

 

Despite a wrist injury which plagued the early part of his season, Statham enjoyed a vintage summer, hitting three Topklasse centuries and totalling 592 runs at 53.82 – third among Dutch-qualified batsmen after Van Bunge and Cooper. He was unable to carry that success into his performances for the national side, but his contribution to Hermes’ campaign was enormous, both as batsman and as captain.