Netherlands' Sybrand Engelbrecht has announced his retirement from international cricket career after his team's ouster from the ongoing T20 World Cup 2024.
Netherlands' Sybrand Engelbrecht retires from international cricket
The 35-year-old's final appearance came on Monday (June 17) during the Netherlands' clash against Sri Lanka in the T20 World Cup 2024 on June 17. Though the Netherlands bowed out of the tournament after an 83-run loss, Engelbrecht's swansong wasn't without its highlights. While his scorecard reflected only 11 runs, he made a spectacular fielding save that went viral on social media. This remarkable effort perhaps mirrored his career trajectory, where his exceptional fielding initially propelled him into the limelight.
Despite Netherlands' exit from the T20 World Cup, Engelbrecht emerged as their leading run-scorer, amassing 98 runs in four innings at an average of 24.5.
Sybrand Engelbrecht's journey to international cricket was a unique one. Born in Johannesburg in 1988, he initially represented South Africa at the U19 World Cup in 2008. There, he made a spectacular catch to dismiss a young Virat Kohli, showcasing fielding skills reminiscent of the legendary Jonty Rhodes.
Engelbrecht then spent his early career in South African domestic cricket, playing for the Cape Cobras and Western Province from 2008 to 2017. He even played a pivotal role in the Cobras' Champions League victory in 2014, where he successfully defended a low score in a Super Over.
However, in 2016, Engelbrecht took a break from cricket to pursue a career in project management, leveraging his MBA from Stellenbosch Business School.
Life took another turn in 2021 when his work with Fairtree brought him to the Netherlands. There, he reignited his passion for cricket by playing club cricket for Voorburg CC. His leadership even led the team to a Dutch Topklasse championship win in 2023.
This return to form coincided with the Netherlands' qualification for the ODI World Cup in India. Engelbrecht, back on the international stage, thrived. He emerged as the team's leading run-scorer in the tournament, amassing an impressive 300 runs in eight innings with an average of 37.50 and a strike rate of 66.66, including two well-constructed fifties.
Sybrand Engelbrecht's stats
Despite representing South Africa at the Under-19 World Cup, Engelbrecht never earned a call-up to their senior team. He finally found his international stage with the Netherlands, making his ODI debut in the 2023 World Cup against New Zealand. Earlier this year, he added T20Is to his resume with a debut against Nepal.
Overall Stats:
Engelbrecht carved a niche for himself in the Dutch squad, featuring in 12 ODIs and 12 T20Is. In the 50-over format, he compiled 385 runs at a healthy average of 35, including two half-centuries. Switching to the shorter format, he continued his consistent scoring with 280 T20I runs at an average of 31.11 and an impressive strike rate of 132.70. Notably, he finished as the Netherlands' leading run-scorer in the ongoing T20 World Cup with 98 runs.
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