Dutch paceman can help more Associate players break through
SOMERSET have signed Dutch international fast bowler Paul van Meekeren on a short-term contract until the end of the summer.
The path to county cricket for members of Associate nations, except those from Ireland and Scotland, is not well trodden and van Meekeren has arrived in Taunton via New Zealand, India, Newcastle and Glamorgan.
“I came to England at the start of the season to play club cricket in Newcastle for Bennell Hill,” says van Meekeren. “The plan was to play club cricket for two or three seasons to see if I could get a contract somewhere.
“I played a few games for Glamorgan 2nd XI and one of them was against Somerset, who asked if I was keen to play a three-day game for them. They liked what they saw and gave me a summer contract.”
The second eleven game against Kent that van Meekeren played was notable for the presence of Marcus Trescothick and Chris Rogers in the Somerset team, both having some game time during the Somerset one-day campaigns they are rested for.
Trescothick and Rogers were impressed and van Meekeren was soon snapped up amid interest from other counties.
The Dutchman generates brisk pace from a tall action and took 3-78 in his first outing for Somerset against the Pakistani tourists. His exposure to first-class cricket has been limited, with just four games since 2013, but his prowess in T20 cricket, which the Associates play a lot, is plain to see.
This was underlined during the World T20 in India when he took 4-11 against Ireland after preparing with a winter of club cricket in New Zealand.
“I want to play all forms of cricket here,” he says. “We play a lot of T20 cricket with the Dutch team but I’ve really enjoyed playing the red ball stuff so far and I hope to get a few chances in the Championship.
“I played my first T20 game for the Somerset first team last week, which I really enjoyed, and I hope to get a few more chances there too.
“I need to stick to my own strengths in T20 cricket because I know them and I know my plans so it’s pretty much settled.
“But four-day cricket is very new to me so I need to learn from the other bowlers here and the experienced guys in the team to improve at that.”
Due to the cavalier attitude of the ICC towards Associate cricket, most of the Dutch national players cannot yet make a decent living from the game they love.
Van Meekeren would like to see more try: “I know there are a few guys in Holland who can make the step from Dutch cricket to the county set-up and it would be nice to see a few more do it.
“I don’t think the counties look at Associate teams so if you want to have a go, you have to come over and play club cricket and trial in second team games to get opportunities.
“To come to England and do that, you have to take a risk. My parents told me to give it a go and see what happens but some parents may think education is more important, or it may be difficult financially, so it can be harder for others to come.”
While van Meekeren is focused on doing well for Somerset in the hope of being offered a longer term deal, he still has Dutch commitments this summer with a game against Afghanistan at the end of July in the four-day ICC Intercontinental Cup, where the Dutch sit second placed. This has added prominence now that a two divisional Test structure is being mooted.
“We are not sure what’s happening in Associate cricket,” says van Meekeren. “With the talk of potentially two divisions, we know there may be some opportunities if we finish top or second of our group. Who knows we may get Test status if that happens?
“I think our focus is still Twenty20 cricket at the moment.We hope the ICC gives us another World Cup in 2018 and we can cause a few upsets.”
Van Meekeren has an opportunity to make a full-time living from the game, something afforded to too few Associate players. If he continues to impress, he could be a shining example of the calibre of Associate players.