Captain Pieter Seelaar announces his retirement from international cricket due to persistent back injury
Published at 19 June, 2022Pieter Seelaar, captain of the Dutch mens cricket team, has decided to end his impressive international cricket career. Recurring back problems make it impossible for him to remain active at the highest level. Scott Edwards takes over from Seelaar today.
Pieter Seelaar: “Since 2020 my back problems got worse to such an extent that - much to my regret - I am no longer able to give everything I’ve got.”
Pieter Seelaar (34) made his debut for the Dutch team in 2005. In 2018 he succeeded Peter Borren as captain. Seelaar is primarily known as accurate, economical and effective left arm spinner. Moreover, he worked hard on his batting through the years, eventually earning him a place in the middle order.
International career
Pieter Seelaar played 57 One Day Internationals and 77 T20 internationals for the Netherlands. Particularly in T20Is he has an excellent track record: 58 wickets for 1,290 runs and 591 runs in 46 innings with a high score of 96 not out.
Pieter made his debut for the Netherlands in May 2005 against Warwickshire. His ODI debut was in July 2006 against Sri Lanka at VRA.
Seelaar formed part of the team that beat England at Lord’s in the opening match of the T20 World Cup in 2009. In that memorable match he took the wicket of the then England skipper, Paul Collingwood. He also formed part of the team that beat England again in Bangladesh in 2014, during the T20 World Cup.
Pieter Seelaars best bowling performances for the Netherlands were 4 wickets for 15 runs in ODI’s and 4-19 in T20Is. His best performance with the bat was 138 not out. He made that score in February 2017 in a four day match against Hong Kong for the ICC Intercontinental Cup. Together with Ben Cooper he added 288 runs for the sixth wicket, still a record partnership.
Seelaar impressed not only as a bowler and batsman, but also as a fielder, among other things with a spectacular catch in the outfield to dismiss Ireland’s Kevin O’Brien in 2016.
High Performance Manager Roland Lefebvre: “Pieter’s input has been priceless, first as a player and later also as captain. His management style is open, honest and transparent, which has always been appreciated by the players. He can look back upon a wonderful international career which unfortunately comes to an untimely end. We wish him the very best for the future.”
Pieter Seelaar -- statistics
Batting |
Mat |
Inns |
NO |
Runs |
HS |
Ave |
BF |
SR |
|
ODI |
57 |
39 |
10 |
347 |
43 |
11.96 |
593 |
58.51 |
|
T20I |
77 |
46 |
12 |
591 |
96 |
* |
17.38 |
532 |
111.09 |
FC |
23 |
41 |
10 |
751 |
138 |
* |
24.22 |
1538 |
48.82 |
List A |
140 |
90 |
24 |
953 |
68 |
14.43 |
1513 |
62.98 |
|
T20 |
98 |
57 |
19 |
680 |
96 |
* |
17.89 |
613 |
110.92 |
Bowling |
Mat |
Inns |
Balls |
Runs |
Wkts |
Ave |
Econ |
SR |
|
ODI |
57 |
57 |
2609 |
2034 |
57 |
35.68 |
4.67 |
45.7 |
|
T20I |
77 |
64 |
1132 |
1290 |
58 |
22.24 |
6.83 |
19.5 |
|
FC |
23 |
32 |
2450 |
1434 |
35 |
40.97 |
3.51 |
70.0 |
|
List A |
140 |
5582 |
4420 |
126 |
35.07 |
4.75 |
44.3 |
||
T20 |
98 |
84 |
1468 |
1657 |
65 |
25.49 |
6.77 |
22.5 |
