T20 World Cup: Bas de Leede carries on Dutch cricketing lineage

NEW DELHI: Carrying a family name in sport can be a burden. For Dutch allrounder Bas de Leede, it has been more of a privilege. The de Leedes are woven into the fabric of Dutch cricket. Bas’s father Tim de Leede played in a very different time, when the Netherlands turning up at a World Cup was an event in itself.

Bas has grown up with those stories.So, when he took to playing international cricket, it didn’t feel like a son trying to step out of his father’s shadow. It felt like a continuation. Bas has never been pushed to become a replica of Tim. Cricket entered his life naturally. “I first started playing cricket in the living room with my dad, just about the same time I started to walk,” Bas said.

Tim, aware of how much cricket has changed since his own playing days, has kept a respectful distance.

“He’s (Tim) always been kind of letting me go free, to try and play my own game and not be too involved,” Bas said.Tim de Leede remains one of the most influential cricketers the Netherlands has produced. His most famous moment came during the 2003 ODI World Cup in Paarl, when he got the prized scalp of Sachin Tendulkar during a spell of 4/35. His figures also included the wicket of Rahul Dravid, Inzamam and Hayden.“I chat with him about his memories from the World Cups, which is a nice thing, but other than that not so much,” Bas said.

“In terms of tips, he doesn’t offer too many. He played in the era where T20 wasn’t a thing.”The de Leede name, however, is not carried by Bas alone. Younger brother Tom is already part of the Netherlands U-19 setup while cousin Babette de Leede is a mainstay of the women’s national team. Their grandfather, Frans de Leede, played club cricket before becoming an international umpire of repute.