ICC T20 WORLD CUP 2022

November 5, 2022

Roelof van der Merwe

Adelaide Oval

Netherlands

Pre Match Media Conference

Q. Very familiar opposition for yourself and Team Netherlands. Tell us about how you guys are going to go about this upcoming fixture against South Africa.

ROELOF VAN DER MERWE: Yeah, I think South Africa is a good outfit. I think we've played some good cricket at stages this tournament, and we know on the day we can turn them over if we just stick to what we've been doing well and just compete on the day.

Q. How are you feeling about your own performance in this World Cup?

ROELOF VAN DER MERWE: Yeah, when I've played, I've been pretty happy. But tomorrow it's a brand-new day, and it's a one-off. The boys are excited for that challenge, and hopefully we can play some good cricket.

Q. Results aside, you guys had a really good victory in your last fixture. How are you feeling as a side in terms of your state of readiness?

ROELOF VAN DER MERWE: Yeah, I think if you look at our previous game against Zimbabwe, we had a good win. I think you always want to get as far as you can in the competition, so you always talk about semifinals and finals and winning trophies.

I think the interesting thing is when we look back at like one of our first games against Bangladesh, if we had won that chase, that success would be how different it could look. As I said, that's all in the past now, and tomorrow the boys are ready, they're excited, and we're looking forward to the challenge against South Africa.

Q. The group stages ensured that teams like your own were able to play a lot more T20 fixtures. How important are regular matches and getting game time for teams to be able to operate at a world event like this?

ROELOF VAN DER MERWE: Yeah, definitely I think for us especially it's very important because we don't get many fixtures against good teams, so it's always trying to manufacture fixtures against opposition where we're traveling.

Yeah, playing those games beforehand definitely helped us preparing for the main stage, and I think it's definitely been beneficial.

Q. What is your assessment of this World Cup? There's been so many close finishes. There's been so many really good, tight games. What does that tell you about the way that teams are starting to rise up and the way that we're starting to have a lot of strength-versus-strength cricket across the world, and the T20 format is one that allows teams to be able to get really good victories against teams that they wouldn't usually play against.

ROELOF VAN DER MERWE: Yeah, I think you look at the different formats and then you look at T20 cricket, the shorter the format is, the closer the teams are. I don't think there's as many -- well, they call them "upsets". Like 10 years ago, there would have been one a tournament. I think you're seeing it more and more happen now. Guys, teams are getting more clued up on how they want to prepare and what needs to be done in winning games, so I think that's definitely something that's evolved over the last 10 years or so.

But yeah, teams are getting closer to the guys at the top, which is good to see. It's good for cricket.

Hopefully that can continue, and there's more type games coming.

Q. Does the number of global leagues that are taking place now that are popping up around the world assist in getting players ready for tournaments like this?

ROELOF VAN DER MERWE: I definitely think so. I think if you look at Netherlands in isolation, for us, for our players, going to play in those leagues is invaluable. That's exposure that they wouldn't normally get in Holland. From the point of view of Netherlands cricket, I think it is a massive benefit that these leagues are happening and guys get exposure in these leagues.

Q. What are some of the biggest takeaways that your team is going to be taking from the experience of this World Cup, especially in terms of the exposure that your teammates have gotten?

ROELOF VAN DER MERWE: Yeah, I think the main thing we'll take back as players and as a team is that feeling of playing against great opposition. You don't have any easy games, and it's a process of learning all the time, which I think it's great for us.

So it's a period now where we've played a lot of cricket against a lot of good teams, and as I say, the golden nuggets we've picked up, it's very important for us going forward and being successful in these type of tournaments in the future.

Q. Does a world event not feel like one of the biggest reunions of all time when you see so many familiar faces?

ROELOF VAN DER MERWE: Yeah, I think that's the great thing about cricket and world events and people coming from different countries participating is that you see old mates and friends that you haven't seen maybe for 10 years. It is great, and that's what sport does. It makes great friendships. It's something that'll continue in the future.

Q. Because of you guys' tournament performances, how has the support been back home in Holland?

ROELOF VAN DER MERWE: Yeah, they're 100 per cent behind us. I think they also understand the size of the tournament and what it means for us to be playing here. Yeah, the support has been great from Netherlands and from everywhere actually. We've had support from all over the world, so it's great.

Q. After the last win against Zimbabwe, are you planning to make some changes in the lineup against South Africa because that might be a crucial match to decide the semifinalists?

ROELOF VAN DER MERWE: Yeah, I think obviously we've just come off a win against Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe and South Africa are two totally different teams. They set up differently. We're going to have to wait for Coach and captain selectors to make their choices on who takes the field, so at this stage I don't have much.

Q. Can we expect Brandon once again because he has performed well of late in the recent matches? Can we expect Brendan Glover once again in the Playing XI?

ROELOF VAN DER MERWE: Yeah, I think Brandon has bowled very well. I think so has all our seamers during the competition.

Our seamers have done really well for us and put us into competitive position in the games. Yeah, I look forward to seeing our seam attack do well again.

Q. I want to ask you, if you win, Pakistan will go through in semifinal. The whole Pakistan supports you, so I want to ask you what's your plan against South Africa?

ROELOF VAN DER MERWE: I think we do understand the whole significance of the game and if we do beat South Africa, but obviously for us it's just playing a game and beating South Africa, so we don't think too far outside of that.

But we just have to do what we've done well, things we've done well this tournament, and if we do that well against South Africa, you never know, we might have a good day against them.

Q. What are your thoughts about all the many permutations in this tournament?

ROELOF VAN DER MERWE: Yeah, I think because of -- there was actually a bit of rain this tournament, so it's made it very complicated in certain ways and run rates get into it. That's always exciting. I mean, just looking at the game last night where Australia had to win by a massive margin to give themselves a better chance. I find it very interesting and exciting to experience that, and yeah, I think it's good.