ICC T20 WORLD CUP 2022

October 15, 2022

Colin Ackermann

Kardinia Park

Netherlands

Pre Match Media Conference

THE MODERATOR: Welcome, everyone. We have Mr. Colin Ackermann of the Netherlands here for the prematch press conference.

Q. Colin, just a year on now from a pretty tough campaign last year. What's happened in the meantime to suggest that this year is going to be far improved? What have you guys done?

COLIN ACKERMANN: I think, obviously, last year our preparation wasn't ideal. In Dubai we didn't have many warmup games, whereas this year we got here two weeks ago in Australia. So our preparation has been much better.

We've been down in Adelaide playing a few warmup games there. Went out to Brisbane to play against a Brisbane Heat and Queensland XI in three games there and a game against Afghanistan as well. I feel like our preparation this year is much better than last year.

Q. Just in terms of last year in terms of the sort of mental knocks that you took from that, does the fact that perhaps you're not as well thought of as a team this year coming into the tournament perhaps work in your favor in that you might be able to play a little bit under the radar in terms of what everyone else might expect?

COLIN ACKERMANN: I suppose all the pressure is on Sri Lanka and Namibia from our group having played in the Super 12s last year.

Just looking back at the start of our campaign against Ireland, Curtis Campher took 4 wickets and 4 balls against us. So doesn't matter how well-prepared you are, if it happens to you in a game, it definitely knocks you back a bit.

Q. You started off against UAE, a team that the Dutch have played a lot of cricket against, but perhaps not so much in the recent past. What are you expecting from them, and what sort of areas do you think you can sort of attack them in?

COLIN ACKERMANN: I think they have quite a dangerous play up front, Waseem. I think early wickets will be crucial against them.

They've also got a few good seamers that change their pace quite a bit, so we've definitely picked up on those aspects of their game.

Q. Just in terms of having some extra assistance in the coaching department, obviously you guys have got Gary Kirsten who has done some consulting work. Could you tell us a little bit about that? I realize it's a very short period of time that he is with you, but what kind of difference can that make, and what sort of things has he done with you guys in that time?

COLIN ACKERMANN: Gary brings with him obviously a wealth of experience having coached some of the best teams in the world. He has also coached here in Australia before with Hobart Hurricanes. He brings with him a bit of experience, a different grounds.

He is also a fantastic batting coach. He understands the game extremely well and the pressure points, so he has worked closely with our batters working on different options against certain types of bowlers.

He has made a big impact in a short space of time in our team.

Q. Then just in terms of the process to get here, the qualifiers were not that long ago, and you had quite a good run there until the final. Is that helpful that you get a little bit of game time before that process, or do you feel that you've go through such a strenuous thing to qualify and then it's basically a week and perhaps you go home or perhaps you stay in the tournament? Just how does that play on your mind?

COLIN ACKERMANN: I suppose the qualifiers were in July for us, so it's quite a long time ago. I think more importantly for us coming into this World Cup are the games that we played before in the previous two weeks.

I think that stands us in better stead and gives us confidence for the first game against UAE.