Different set-up Topklasse causes battle at the bottom

By Klaas Jan Droppert 

With a completely different set-up, it promises to be a nerve-racking season in the Topklasse from April 27. No more play-offs and no less than two clubs will be relegated directly, while the number 8 will play a promotion-relegation match against the champion of the Hoofdklasse. That means that it will probably remain exciting until the last day. The new set-up aims to reduce the Topklasse to eight clubs next year. It will make the places in the Topklasse even more valuable. Who will stay in it? Who will be champion? An overview of how the clubs are doing and what they think themselves.

Punjab

Punjab won its second national championship last season, but had to go far to do so. Until the last over, VRA seemed to win the title. "It was exciting in the semi-finals and the final," says captain Sikander Zulfiqar. "But the deciding factor has given our team well attuned to each other. And that we have a long batting line-up where the numbers 8 and 9 can also make runs."  

That long batting line up will also be there this season. Only Asad Zulfiqar (Hermes DVS), who mainly played in the second team, has left. Shoaib Minhas, Jonathan Vandiar and Mohsin Riaz return.

It makes Punjab, which is playing on a new and larger ground this season, the favorite for the title. "But I don't think you can say in advance who is the favorite," says Sikander. "There are many strong teams in the Topklasse and it also depends on if the overseas are going to do well. However, title renewal is the goal and we want to win the T20 league. The fact that there are no play-offs doesn't matter much. Although that was a guarantee for an exciting competition until the end. Performing under pressure when I have to, I personally like it. But this form has been chosen and so we are adjusting to it."

VRA

VRA was close to the title last season, but in the fiftieth over, with one wicket to conquer, things still went wrong. "That was a disappointment, although I was satisfied with the progress we made last season," says captain Teja Nidamanuru.  The Amsterdam team loses Clayton Floyd (HCC) and Udit Nashier (VCC). Elijah Eales will not return either. Two New Zealanders, opening bowler Peter Ruffel and wicketkeeper-batter Jack Cassidy have been brought in as reinforcements. Patrick Gouge, who played T20 cricket for Jersey, also joins. Shreyas Potdar comes over from fellow city rival ACC and Ethan Hartsink returns. "I think we have a strong selection again, just like last season."

Last season it went wrong in the play-offs. Now VRA has to make its move in a regular competition. "It doesn't matter what form it is, but it's not a good thing that the structure of the competition changes every year. For example, it is not a good thing that the majority of the players have to adapt, because fifteen players are not there due to obligations with the Dutch team. You have to facilitate the rest."  

VRA's goal is to become champion this season. "We want to work towards that. To finish one place higher than last season. Our competitors will be the well-known names: Punjab, HCC and VCC."

HBS

HBS finished just outside the playoffs last season due to a worse run rate. The Hagenaars started strong, but lost the last three matches. That cannot be seen separately from the departure of Lehan Botha and Matt De Villiers, who returned to South Africa earlier than planned. "Otherwise we would have made it to the play-offs," says Tayo Walbrugh, who has taken over the captaincy from Wesley Barresi.  

Once again, the 'Crows' rely heavily on South African input. And in doing so, the people of The Hague can present spectacular names. What about top international Roelof van der Merwe, who left Somerset? Or Heino Kuhn, the assistant national coach, who can help the team move forward with his knowledge and experience. In addition, Botha returns and his compatriots Sellin de Beer and Jayden Rossouw come along. In addition to De Villiers, Henrico Venter (HCC) will also be leaving.

Walbrugh is a proponent of a competition without play-offs. "That's how it is arranged in South Africa. That way, the best also wins and it can't depend on one bad day in the playoffs."

Just like last season, HBS is hoping for a good start. "That is important in this set-up. The top-4 is the goal and there are many teams that qualify for that. We hope to continue to show good cricket and that the younger players will take another step."

HCC

HCC finished third in the Topklasse last season, but was eliminated by VCC in the elimination round. And that in a year in which the selection seemed to be less strong in quality due to many departures. "But we always have a good base of Dutch players," says captain Boris Gorlee. "However, during the season we’re sometimes precarious. We can play great cricket and then we are difficult to beat, but we can also drop to a low point."

The Hagenaars lose Patient Chirumbira to VCC and Tim Pringle chooses to recover from his injury in New Zealand. On the other hand, there are the return of international Clayton Floyd (VRA) and Henrico Venter (HBS). Mark Wolfe comes over from ACC. New Zealander Oliver White and South African Joshua Brown are contracted as overseas. The South African Jaydan Peskin and Dinand de Hommel (Hermes DVS) are also new.

The 'Crown Lions', always proponents of cricket in its purest form, applaud the abolition of the play-offs. The last few seasons have shown that HCC always comes back strong after a cold start. And the people of The Hague can take advantage of absent internationals from competitors. "We are aiming for the top 3 and think that Punjab, VCC and HBS will also be at the top."

VCC

After three finals in a row, of which the 2023 edition was won, VCC stranded in the semi-finals last year. The Voorburgers lost big to VRA, which only needed 26 overs. "Last season we not only regularly missed our internationals, but we also had many injured players," says Floris de Lange, who acts as captain when Noah Croes is on the road with the Dutch team. "There was often more than half a team missing. In the end, we did quite well, but we didn't get to where we want to be."

Whether VCC will win its third championship depends on the availability of players. The Voorburgers regularly have to give up players to the Dutch team. "That's why it depends on the width of the selection how far we're going to get."

VCC has at least responded to that. If the internationals are missing, South African Gavin Kaplan (last year's batsman with the most runs in the Topklasse) and Carl Mumba (who played Test cricket for Zimbabwe) should take the team in tow. The selection is further completed by the Australian Henry Melville (Melbourne University), Patient Chirumbira (HCC) and Udit Nashier (VRA).

Hermes DVS

Hermes DVS returned to the top level after six seasons and made an immediate impression. The Schiedammers qualified for the championship pool. And what tasted even better was that that position was achieved thanks to a win over archrival Excelsior'20. "The fact that it eventually happened at the expense of Excelsior'20 is not so important, it was more of a funny detail," says captain Sebastiaan Braat.

Hermes DVS has few mutations. South African CP Kleinhans will not return, but Ashley Ostling and Daniel Doyle will. Furthermore, the Rijnmonders have brought in a wicketkeeper with Asad Zulfiqar from Punjab. Sahil Kothari also returns from ACC. Jake Needham remains as a non-playing coach. "It's nice that Jake and also Aryan Dutt stayed. I am especially happy with the arrival of Asad Zulfiqar, so that we have a good wicketkeeper." That doesn't mean that good old Nick Statham is quitting. "No, he will continue, but gets a different position. But he will also have to fight for his place because there is a strong selection."

Braat thinks that Hermes DVS can do even better this season and is even aiming for fourth place. "Although the numbers 4 to 10 will probably have to fight hard for their place."  

VOC

VOC noticed that the loss of Max O'Dowd and Scott Edwards weighed heavily. The Rotterdammers missed the championship pool. "If a few small things had fallen our way, we would have played in the championship pool," says captain Tim de Kok. "After that, we were able to maintain ourselves quite easily."  New Zealanders Taylor Bettelheim, Jock McKenzie and Ryan Schierhout will not return as overseas. Asief Hoseinbaks has left for his old club Dosti. VOC can again use Jason van der Meulen, a South African with a Dutch passport.  

De Kok does not agree with the current set-up. "I think it's a bad thing. Dutch cricket is club cricket. With fewer clubs, you take away the places for the Dutch players, because teams start making panic buys. If you want to do it more professionally, you have to create a competition above the Topklasse. Then a team Rijnmond plays against a team from Haaglanden."

VOC seems to be one of the teams that mainly have to fight for survival. "But if we are relegated, nothing will change at VOC. We will continue to focus on our own youth, on our own players. But because of this measure, one or two turf wickets may be lost for the Topklasse next season. Is that a good development for Dutch cricket?"

Sparta 1888

Sparta 1888 finished third in 2023, but was condemned to the relegation pool last season. In the end, it kept Excelsior'20 and relegated ACC below them. "In the beginning, we achieved disappointing results, also due to injuries," says captain Joost-Martijn Snoep. "It was only when we had a fixed group in the final phase that things started to turn. It wasn't the first time that the season went like this."

The core of the selection will be retained, but the Capellen team will say goodbye to Cameron Fraser (no club), Riley Mudford (no club), Faizan Bashir (to SV Royal Punjab), Algis Jack (to Bloemendaal), Sandeep Sardha (stops) and also Will Clark (Bromley Common CC).  Their spots are filled by Australian wicketkeeper Lukas Boorer and batsman Kyle Klesse, a South African with a German passport. Tim Ferguson, the brother of the former overseas Sam, is also added to the selection.

Snoep is pleased with one aspect of the competition. "That you meet each other away and at home is much fairer than just once. It really makes a difference whether you play against Kampong with or without Max O'Dowd and Scott Edwards. You can not do well with one duel. Now that is more or less equalized. With three possible relegations, everyone will want to stay above the line. And then the overseas will determine who is relegated and who is not."

Excelsior'20

Is there life after Lorenzo Ingram? That question is central to Excelsior'20. The 41-year-old Jamaican has played at sports park Thurlede since 2014 as a player-coach and he made the Schiedammers champions three times. But he leaves for Kampong. In 171 matches for Excelsior'20, he scored 5,912 runs with an average of 44.79 runs per game. He also captured 221 wickets. Ingram is a player who is difficult to replace, especially for a team that flirted with relegation in the last two seasons.

"These are things that happen, such is life," says captain Roel Verhagen about the departure of the club icon. South African Derek Mitchell, who was disappointing, will not return. Instead, Excelsior'20 has brought in a promising compatriot. A lot is expected of Raynard van Tonder at Thurlede sports park.

Furthermore, Excelsior'20 also relies mainly on its own players this year. It remains the team with the most self-trained players in the Topklasse. And perhaps the new format without play-offs is beneficial for the tough Excelsior'20. "We have also been the last to qualify for the play-offs and then also became champions. Eighty percent of this team has won the championship three times in four years with and without play-offs. So we should be able to do it. Some people will think after last season that we should concentrate on staying in the league, but I think if you can win three championships in a short time, you can also compete at the top. That's what we focus on. ”

Kampong

Kampong was relegated from the Topklasse in 2022, but is back. The Utrechters were the overwhelming favorites for the title in the Hoofdklasse due to the arrival of internationals Max O'Dowd and Scott Edwards, but it was still a nerve-racking final against Quick. "In the end, there was relief and joy," says captain Alex Roy. "We lived up to our role as favorites."

Much will depend this season on how often O'Dowd and Edwards will be present due to international commitments. The fact that they may miss half of the duels could determine Kampong's fate, although Roy is not afraid of that. "We have shown that we can win without them, although that may be a little more difficult in the Topklasse. But we have enough depth in our selection."

New Zealander Ben Pomare is no longer there, but that is offset by the arrival of Lorenzo Ingram (after eleven seasons and three titles at Excelsior'20). "We can use his experience very well." Akhil Gopinath (Salland) and former VOC player Lane Berry have also been added to the selection.

"We are aiming for the top-4 with Kampong. But that will be a fight with many teams. I think it will be very close."