Netherlands finalise venues for county games

Netherlands, who will be returning to English domestic cricket this year in Ireland's absence, have finalised venues for their home games in the 2010 ECB 40 League. Six games are to be shared evenly between Amstelveen, Schiedam and Rotterdam.

"We are extremely grateful to the clubs for hosting these prestigious fixtures in what will be a very interesting programme of matches," said KNCB chief executive Richard Cox. "It goes without saying the players are looking forward to playing on the county grounds in the UK but the home venues where Dutch cricket supporters will be able to see their national team are equally as special in a different way."

Netherlands, who finished third in the World Cup Qualifiers, are now in preparation mode for the tournament to be held in the subcontinent in 2011. Netherlands made their first appearance in international cricket in the 1996 World Cup, and the event in 2011 will be their fourth. They are yet to beat a Test-playing nation in the format, however, so their participation in county cricket this summer will provide invaluable experience.

"The prospect of the visiting sides containing names such as Ryan ten Doeschate, Alastair Cook, Ravi Bopara, Andrew Strauss and so on is exciting in itself let alone the array of overseas players and young players that the county scene produces."