![](\"https:\/\/static.independent.co.uk\/static-assets\/images\/newsletter\/sport\/sport-135x135.png\")
<\/p>\nNetherlands\u2019 Sybrand Engelbrecht plays a shot during the 2023 ICC Men\u2019s Cricket World Cup one-day international match between New Zealand and Netherlands<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
When Sybrand Engelbrecht took the field for Netherlands\u2019 match against New Zealand in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023, only a handful of ardent cricket fans would have recognised him.<\/p>\n
Engelbrecht had last played a competitive match back in 2016 for Western Province, a domestic cricket team in South Africa, in a three-day cup, before retiring as a professional cricketer.<\/p>\n
He decided to use his MBA degree to move to the Netherlands and start working as an investment specialist.<\/p>\n
But the Johannesburg-born player then did something bizarre.<\/p>\n
He decided to return to cricket.<\/p>\n
![](\"https:\/\/static.independent.co.uk\/2023\/10\/09\/10\/newFile-3.jpg\")
\n![](\"https:\/\/static.independent.co.uk\/2023\/10\/10\/06\/SEI175343673.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
Bizarre turn of events<\/strong><\/p>\n Engelbrecht qualified to represent the Netherlands national team after completing his three-year residency as per the International Cricket Council\u2019s (ICC) requirement.<\/p>\n The investment firm where Engelbrecht still works \u2013 Fairtree \u2013 has an association with cricket that goes back to 2018 when it partnered with Gary Kirsten Cricket, a leading cricket academy.<\/p>\n Fairtree also became a partner of the Royal Dutch Cricket Association (KNCB) and shirt sponsor of the Men\u2019s Cricket Team for the ICC Men\u2019s T20 World Cup 2021 and ODI Tour to South Africa in November 2021.<\/p>\n Engelbrecht\u2019s dream-come-true moment<\/strong><\/p>\n The player\u2019s journey took a dream turn as he made his international debut at the age of 35 at a World Cup no less \u2013 nearly seven years after his retirement.<\/p>\n Even though his maiden appearance for the Dutch side ended in a 99-run loss to the Black Caps on 9 October in Hyderabad, it was still the start of a new chapter for Engelbrecht, who had produced a moment of brilliance on the cricket field 17 years ago.<\/p>\n The 2008 Under-19 World Cup gave the world its first glimpse of future cricketing legends like Virat Kohli, Steve Smith, Kane Williamson, Josh Hazlewood and Tim Southee, but Engelbrecht\u2019s name is one that often stands out.<\/p>\n Sybrand Engelbrecht, who played for South Africa during the ICC U\/19 Cricket World Cup, poses for an official team photo call at the Sunway Hotel on 13 February 2008 in Kuala Lumpur<\/p>\n Engelbrecht\u2019s brilliance seen 17 years ago<\/strong><\/p>\n In one instance while representing South Africa in the side\u2019s match against Papua New Guinea, Engelbrecht leapt in the air and took what is considered to be one of the best catches of all time, with one of the commentators remarking, \u201cAll he\u2019s missing is a cape\u201d. <\/p>\n Engelbrecht also leapt to take another excellent catch that dismissed Kohli in the world cup final even though South Africa had to settle as the runners-up.<\/p>\n The wicketkeeper-batsman never managed to break into South Africa\u2019s senior side, but played 54 First Class, 57 List A and 45 T20 matches in his country\u2019s domestic setup before parting ways with the sport.<\/p>\n During his nine-year association with the Cape Cobras, a franchise cricket team in South Africa\u2019s domestic circuit, Engelbrecht obtained a degree in finance and a post-graduation degree in project management.<\/p>\n In 2016, the right-handed batsman decided to call it quits on his cricketing career and began working in finance in January 2017.<\/p>\n Netherlands\u2019 Sybrand Engelbrecht dives to field a ball during the ICC Men\u2019s Cricket World Cup match between Pakistan and Netherlands in Hyderabad<\/p>\n Ahead of the World Cup 2023, where he has been picked as a batsman, the all-rounder said that after retiring from cricket, he never went back to the sport until 2021, when he moved to the Netherlands with his family.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was the gap in these years when I didn\u2019t have much to do with cricket. When we moved to the Netherlands… I\u2019ve got a wife and a three-year-old son. We thought the easiest way to integrate into the community is to play some sport again. Picked up the bat and fell in love with it all over again,\u201d Engelbrecht said in an interview with cricket.com.<\/p>\n \u201cPlayed for Voorburg Cricket Club. Did well in 2021. In 2022 I had a shoulder operation, so I hadn\u2019t played much. This season… we had a really good season and I became eligible to play for the Dutch in June or July. Made my debut for the A side after I became eligible. Did well there and here we are.\u201d<\/p>\n Netherlands\u2019 next match in the 2023 World Cup is on 13 October against South Africa, where Engelbrecht will have some familiar batsmen as his opponents.<\/p>\n Engelbrecht had played with one of them, Reeza Hendricks, in the 2008 tournament, and with Rassie van der Dussen in some domestic matches.<\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/static.independent.co.uk\/2023\/10\/11\/12\/GettyImages-79739209.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/static.independent.co.uk\/2023\/10\/11\/12\/SEI174889181.jpg\")
<\/p>\n