TOP batsman Jean Bredenkamp will miss Namibia’s final two matches in the World Cricket League (WCL) series against the Netherlands next month since his application for citizenship has not been finalised yet.
Bredenkamp, who’s father was born in Namibia, and who elected to join Namibia from Boland this year, has been in great form in the Sunfoil 3-Day Cup as well as the CSA One Day Challenge this season.
He has scored the second most runs in the CSA One Day Challenge with 263 runs at an average of 87,66 and a top score of 164 not out, while he is the sixth highest scorer in the Sunfoil 3-Day Cup with 314 runs at an average of 44,85.
He has played a leading role in the team’s fine performances in the South African competitions, where they are currently leading the Sunfoil 3-Day Cup and are second in the CSA One Day Challenge.
Bredenkamp’s absence will be a big blow against the Netherlands, who are currently top of the WCL log and very close to qualifying for the ODI (One Day International) League for the top 13 ODI nations, which is due to start in 2019.
The Netherlands currently lead the log on 18 points, but Papua New Guinea (16), Scotland (15) and Hong Kong (14) who will also all be in action in Dubai, and can still pip them to the post and take the top spot.
The Netherlands received a further boost this week when it was announced that their all-time leading run scorer Ryan Ten Doeschate will be available for the two matches against Namibia.
Ten Doeschate last played for the Netherlands at the 2011 World Cup and since then has forged a successful career in English County cricket and T20 tournaments around the world. This year he captained Essex to the County Championship title.
He has a fantastic ODI batting average of 67,00 which includes five centuries and nine fifties, while he was one of only three players to score two centuries at the 2011 World Cup, the other two being cricketing legends Sachin Tendulkar of India and AB de Villiers of South Africa.
There will be nothing but pride at stake for Namibia who are currently second last on the log on six points from 12 matches.
Despite Bredenkamp’s absence the Namibian team still boasts a formidable line-up including batting stalwarts like Stephen Baard, Craig Williams, LP van der Westhuizen, Gerhard Erasmus, JP Kotze and captain Sarel Burger, while Jan Frylinck, JJ Smit and Bernard Scholtz will lead the bowling attack.
The Namibian team is as follows:
Sarel Burger (captain), Stephen Baard, LP van der Westhuizen, JP Kotze, Craig Williams, Gerhard Erasmus , Jan Frylinck, JJ Smit, Bernard Scholtz, Danie van Schoor, Tangeni Lungameni, Collin Peake, Zane Green and Karl Birkenstock.
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