Only a few months ago, V.O.C. Rotterdam were crowned Kings of European cricket when they won the first edition of the European Cricket League (ECL) in spectacular fashion in La Manga, Spain.

Naturally, the ECL19 champions V.O.C. Rotterdam will be back to defend their magnificent trophy at ECL20 as Netherlands T20 winners after seeing off HBS Cricket Club in their domestic final.

ECL20 promises to be even bigger and better. Due to huge interest and demand for the competition, ECL20 will expand its number of champion teams - spread over eight days of exciting fast-paced T10 action between May 31 and June 7, 2020.

However, it is not all doom and gloom for HBS. Because V.O.C. Rotterdam are also basking in the ECL glow as “Kings of Europe,” HBS can console themselves with the HUGE consolation prize of a spot as Netherlands representatives in ECL20. Of course, it goes without saying that from now on the federation boasting the reigning Kings have two teams representing them in the ECL the following year.

Founded way back in 1893, HBS is a multi-sports club in the Hague steeped in history and last year celebrated its 125th anniversary. Over the years, HBS cricket has been home to many legends of the game, including South African great Dik Abed, who helped shape the club in the late seventies. A truly world-class cricketer, Abed never played for South Africa because of Apartheid but went onto captain the Netherlands at the 1982 World Cup after marrying a Dutch woman. England’s Jonathan Trott and New Zealand’s Grant Elliott are another two cricketing legends to have represented the “Crows.”

Grant Elliott. Photo credit: Rolf van Raamsdonk

In fact, Trott was turning out for HBS when he got a sudden opportunity to go on a trial at Warwickshire. After a duck in the 1st innings for Warwickshire seconds, he scored a double hundred in his second knock and the rest his history as they say for Trottie. It’s also fair to say that Kiwi all-rounder Elliott was the more impressive of the two famous stars during his time in the Netherlands.

HBS captain Tobias Visée, is starring currently for the Netherlands national team in the ICC T20 World Cup qualifiers.

We welcome HBS Cricket Club to the 2020 European Cricket League.