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The last time these two sides met in the 50-over format was in a World Cup Qualifier match in 2018, with both sides vying for a spot in the 2019 Cricket World Cup. This week the two sides meet once again in the context of advancing their chances of qualifying for a Cricket World Cup. To say this series is consequential for both sides would be an understatement.
This three-match ODI series is part of the World Cup Super League, with 10 points per match up for grabs. Ireland currently has 10 points from a possible 60 on the table, while the Netherlands are featuring in their first fixtures of the competition.

When the two sides met in 2018 in this format, it was a convincing 93-run (DLS) win for Ireland, however, it is fair to say that much has changed in the intervening three years for both sides. Key retirements to big-name players see both Ireland and Netherlands head into the first match tomorrow with a much younger group. For Ireland, the names Joyce, Rankin, Wilson, Murtagh and Niall O’Brien have all retired subsequently, while the Dutch have seen the likes of Barresi and Borren retire, and will also be without Ryan ten Doeschate and Roelof van der Merwe from their squad that day (both not released by their County sides for the series).

Perhaps as a good omen, if one can be drawn from the match back in March 2018, is that current skipper Andrew Balbirnie claimed Player of the Match that day with a 68 from 75 balls.

The weather for Game 1 is expected to be sunny with mid-20s temperatures, making batting conditions good.

The scheduled start of play is 10.30am (local time) or 9.30am (Irish time).

How to watch

Follow the game live via the KNCB YouTube Channel (only available if you live outside Bangladesh, New Zealand, South Africa, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan, Maldives). And also on TV via Ziggo Sport in the Netherlands.

Ireland

Under the captaincy of Andrew Balbirnie, Ireland has a youthful and talented group of players, mixed with some more experienced campaigners who will undoubtedly be adding to the squad both on and off the field of play. Balbirnie himself is coming off a successful run in the Inter-Provincial Cup, with a century and an 85* in his last three innings.

The stand-out batter in that domestic competition, however, has been George Dockrell who raked up 364 runs at an average of 121.33, including a century and four fifties. The Leinster Lightning captain has been in imperious form this year, albeit his batting average – when you include the 2020 Cup results – has been a Bradmanesque 133.33 in the 50-over Cup competition. This weight of runs has seen Dockrell force his way back into the international side, with Balbirnie yesterday suggesting Dockrell would likely “bat 5” in the first ODI.

Another batter with a weight of expectations on his shoulders is Paul Stirling. With three ODI centuries in his last five international innings, Stirling has carried on the form that saw him earlier this year named Ireland Men’s Player of the Decade (2011-2020). Stirling has hit 127 runs at a strike rate of 147 in the Inter-Pros this year, and recently signed a short-term deal with Middlesex for the Vitality Blast in June. Can Stirlo continue to deliver when needed?

One of the interesting aspects for fans will be who Balbirnie and Head Coach Graham Ford select to open with Stirling. Gareth Delany (missing from this tour with an injury) and Kevin O’Brien have been used in recent times at international level, but Balbirnie said yesterday that the opening slot next to Stirling was not settled just yet.

The bowling stocks look good for the visitors, with the pace bowlers on song – Barry McCarthy is in flying form in the Inter-Provincial Cup (17 wickets at 12.59 apiece), Craig Young possibly in the form of his life, Mark Adair getting back his best, Josh Little looking sharp and Graeme McCarter forcing his recall to the senior side after a nine-wicket haul for the Ireland Wolves against Netherlands A last month. Simi Singh and Andy McBrine give Ireland good options with spin, while Balbirnie has a wealth of part-timers to turn to if needed in Stirling, Dockrell, Harry Tector and O’Brien. Young legspinner Ben White is probably a very outside chance of playing in Game 1, but is an exciting prospect nonetheless.

Squad: Andrew Balbirnie (captain), Paul Stirling (vice-captain), Mark Adair, George Dockrell, Josh Little, Andrew McBrine, Graeme McCarter, Barry McCarthy, Kevin O’Brien, William Porterfield, Simi Singh, Harry Tector, Lorcan Tucker, Ben White, Craig Young.

Netherlands

The big talking point – and challenge to overcome – for Netherlands was not who was selected, but who wasn’t in the squad. Shane Snater, Ryan ten Doeschate, Roelof van der Merwe and Colin Ackermann will remain with their counties after not being released for the series, while Paul van Meekeren is also missing.

Saying that, the Dutch side that will face Ireland will still be full of talented and dangerous players. Captain Pieter Seelaar will look to lead from the front, while opener Max O’Dowd looked impressive for his 82 against Scotland recently. Ben Cooper always remains a danger when he gets in, and Tobias Visée looked to be finding his form again with the bat towards the latter stages of the Netherlands A v Ireland Wolves series at Oak Hill.

Vivian Kingma looked extremely sharp for Netherlands A against the Wolves, and continued that form into the Scotland ODI series grabbing five wickets, and Logan van Beek will look to continue his economical bowling from the other end.

Squad: Pieter Seelaar (captain), Scott Edward, Max O’Dowd, Stephan Myburgh, Ben Cooper, Bas de Leede, Timm van der Gugten, Logan van Beek, Fred Klaassen, Philippe Boissevain, Vivian Kingma, Brandon Glover, Tobias Visée, Musa Nadeem Ahmad, Saqib Zulfiqar.

Key players

Ireland – Paul Stirling
Like many series, the first few balls of the first match can set the tone for what is to come afterwards. And it will be Stirling who will look to set that positive tone early for Ireland. The vice-captain has struck three figures in four of his last six international innings, and has looked in typical ebullient form in the Inter-Pros. While Ireland is far from a one-man team, it is often the manner and early momentum that Stirling creates that sets his side on the way to victory (or setting a good target). The ground at Utrecht is not a big one, so look for Stirling to go aerial from the off.

Netherlands – Vivian Kingma
Kingma impressed observers greatly with his two bowling performances at Oak Hill for Netherlands A. His Player of the Match 3-5 from 5 overs in Game 2 was the spell that decimated the Wolves top order, and he returned to Holland to pick up five wickets in the two ODIs against Scotland to show his form was more than fleeting. Pace and movement are his stock-in-trade and he will once more look to trouble an Irish top order.

Keys to victory

With decent batting conditions expected, the two respective top orders will likely dictate the outcome of this first ODI. Whichever side bats first, they will need to make a positive start to set the tone for the series ahead. Setting a competitive target in Game 1 will be crucial, as both sides have the ability to chase down targets with ease. Ireland has the more favoured bowling attack on paper, but for the Men in Green it will be the batting unit that will need to make a statement early. With 10 world cup qualification points on the table tomorrow, neither side will want to start the series slowly. That’s the beauty of the World Cup Super League – every match matters.

Craig Easdown
Balbirnie hit 68 last time these two sides met in the 50-over format
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