Bertus de Jong @bdjcricket.bsky.social · 24/09/2026substack.com/@outsidethec...substack.comBertus de Jong (@outsidethecircle)A look back at ETPL season one - the Good, the Bad, and the Unclear… 120
Bertus de Jong @bdjcricket.bsky.social · 04/09/2026Sounds like moving the two L2 series in the Gulf is at the very least under serious consideration, Alternative venues; NEP-CAN-OMN moving to Nepal, UAE-OMN-NED potentially to Sri Lanka. 000
Bertus de Jong @bdjcricket.bsky.social · 03/09/2026The final Leg of CWC Challenge League A is indeed moving from Qatar to Kenya. No confirmation on the Qualifier or Qualifier playoff as yet. Does suggest the two last League 2 series in the Gulf might get moved too though. Understand Nepal are keen to host their last. 030
Bertus de Jong @bdjcricket.bsky.social · 31/08/2026Namibia, Oman and Uganda had all put in bids for the Qualifier Playoff, and word is Nepal have now expressed interest too. Kenya was explored as alternative host for the last Challenge League A,but unconfirmed. The Qualifier is expected to go to Zimbabwe again, as is the Emerging Nations Trophy. 010
Bertus de Jong @bdjcricket.bsky.social · 31/08/2026Expecting some news this week on venue confirmation for the CWC Qualifier Playoff and possibly CWC Qualifier, as well as the final leg of the CWC Challenge League A, which is likely to be moved out of Qatar. Women's Emerging Nations Trophy host also likely to be finanlised soon. 110
Bertus de Jong @bdjcricket.bsky.social · 31/08/2026Looks like we're at least start a game in at Stirling today, though there's more rain on the radar. 3pm start, 32 overs each way (for now). The Dutch have been forced to stake about half a million US Dollars on the Scottish weather. Details on why here: bdjcricket.substack.com/p/its-a-hard...bdjcricket.substack.comIt’s a Hard Rain – Half-Million Dollar Washout Looms in SterlingThe Netherlands Women need to get one more ODI played in Scotland to avoid a calamitous funding cut next year - an absurd situation that may prefigure the future of all Associate ODI competition. 120
Bertus de Jong @bdjcricket.bsky.social · 30/08/2026bdjcricket.substack.com/p/its-a-hard...bdjcricket.substack.comIt’s a Hard Rain – Half-Million Dollar Washout Looms in SterlingThe Netherlands Women need to get one more ODI played in Scotland to avoid a calamitous funding cut next year - an absurd situation that may prefigure the future of all Associate ODI competition. 095
Bertus de Jong @bdjcricket.bsky.social · 16/07/2026Increasingly convinced the only people that read my stuff are like a couple dozen dudes on Reddit and then just other journalists. And honestly I am entirely alright with that. Y'all are my target audience. 240
Reposted by Bertus de JongAndrew Nixon @andrewnixon.bsky.social · 16/07/2026This is not a 14 team World Cup and mindlessly parroting the ICC's bullshit claims that it is reflects very poorly on every journalist who does so. 164
Bertus de Jong @bdjcricket.bsky.social · 14/07/2026open.substack.com/pub/bdjcrick...open.substack.comYou are all Wrong about the Rankings (again)2027 World Cup Qualification and the ODI rankings race 021
Bertus de Jong @bdjcricket.bsky.social · 13/07/2026I have been compelled to do another substack, this one on 2027 WC Qualification, by people being relentlessly wrong on the internet and also in the supposedly serious paper press. substack.com/home/post/p-...substack.comYou are all Wrong about the Rankings (again)2027 World Cup Qualification and the ODI rankings race 051
Bertus de Jong @bdjcricket.bsky.social · 13/07/2026I'm assured it was 100% a mistake and they've heard nothing about potential changes to the World Cup from anyone but me. 000
Bertus de Jong @bdjcricket.bsky.social · 13/07/2026Genuinely hilarious that the KNCB likely just accidentally broke a huge story they didn't even know about by just not being able to count to 14 (or 12). 222
Bertus de Jong @bdjcricket.bsky.social · 11/07/2026Bracing for absolutely horrifc news out of the ICC meet today. Bonfire of the Pathways inbound I fear. 100
Bertus de Jong @bdjcricket.bsky.social · 11/07/2026Yeah don't get too attached to any Pathways events is my advise. 000
Bertus de Jong @bdjcricket.bsky.social · 05/07/2026The 50-over World Cup is still the most commercially vaulable single tournament in cricket. These proposals would reduce it to a novelty sideshow, to the benefit of nobody but those with a stake in franchise cricket. ICC is allowing its strategy to be directed by and for its chief competitors. 142
Bertus de Jong @bdjcricket.bsky.social · 05/07/2026The ICC seems intent on hobbling the only format where it has an effective monopoly at elite level, and cutting the legs out from under those members for whom it is both the pinnacle and foundation of the game. 110
Bertus de Jong @bdjcricket.bsky.social · 05/07/2026Already public is talk of restricting the window to 18 months out of every 48, and shortening the format itself. Worse still is talk of a return to a 10-team World Cup. 110
Bertus de Jong @bdjcricket.bsky.social · 05/07/2026Rumours swirling ahead of the ICC meet in Edinburgh are even more alarming than usual. Increasingly seems ODI cricket is going to get utterly gut-shot on Wednesday, at the direction of some clowns at McKinsey. 311
Reposted by Bertus de JongArmchair Cricket Podcast @armchair-cricket.bsky.social · 04/07/2026Raising some important Qs in this article is @bdjcricket.bsky.social: bdjcricket.substack.com/p/show-me-th... #DutchCricket #KNCBbdjcricket.substack.comShow Me the MoneyDoes the franchise model even make financial sense in Europe? 031
Bertus de Jong @bdjcricket.bsky.social · 04/07/2026Down the the Bos for the penultimate round of Topklasse 2026. Biking to the Cricket Tunes: We Don't Have a Drummer - Musica 2 www.youtube.com/watch?v=yysz...youtube.comHeadless ZebraYouTube video by We Don't Have a Drummer - Topic 020
Bertus de Jong @bdjcricket.bsky.social · 02/07/2026Honestly I don't imagine anyone has given that much thought, given how unlikely it is to be tested. My suspicion is it would't be possible as it would complicatethe game's T20I status, as both are currently ineligible for NL under ICC (though not Olympic) rules due to the three year FM>AM cool-off. 000
Bertus de Jong @bdjcricket.bsky.social · 02/07/2026Botha will be over along with Dane Vilas as Assistant to interim head coach Heino Kuhn for the upcoming CWCL2 series, expect a there will be an open process thereafter. 010
Bertus de Jong @bdjcricket.bsky.social · 02/07/2026The Dutch Antilles ceased to exist altogether in 2010. Sint Maarten's now a contituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, so they're pretty much stuck competing with the contninental Netherlands in Europe as I understand it. 100
Bertus de Jong @bdjcricket.bsky.social · 02/07/2026PRAY ONLY TO BE EATEN FIRST (was the original title for this) (oh yeah and I have a substack now pls like&subscribe or smthn)open.substack.comShow Me the MoneyDoes the franchise model even make financial sense in Europe? 000
Bertus de Jong @bdjcricket.bsky.social · 02/07/2026First back-on-bluesky-only gossip: KNCB's head coach (and HP director) vacancy hasn't even been advertised yet, but word is the leading candidate for the Netherlands men's job is former Queensland coach Johan Botha. 331
Bertus de Jong @bdjcricket.bsky.social · 02/07/2026Good news, everyone! I rediscovered my Bluesky login. Still on the other place too but will be posting the best stuff here first. and the widely-tolerated series "Biking to the Cricket Tunes" will also be a Bluesky exclusive from here on out. 180
Bertus de Jong @bdjcricket.bsky.social · 29/05/2025New Sunset Rubdown album? When did that happen? Well that's today's belatedly biking to cricket tunes sorted then. www.youtube.com/watch?v=kRpNglUxQP0… 000
Bertus de Jong @bdjcricket.bsky.social · 28/05/2025Aye and RvdM's HBS affilitation is a bit hypothetical at this point tbh. 011
Bertus de Jong @bdjcricket.bsky.social · 28/05/2025Couple of changes for the Dutch squad that heads to Scotland for the next leg of #CWCL2, most notably a call up for VRA's left arm quick Ben Fletcher, who replaces Klaassen. Recall for the veteran Wes Barresi too, in for de Leede. So barring ZLC it's a 100% Topklasse squad... 220
Bertus de Jong @bdjcricket.bsky.social · 09/05/2025worth making a mental note that cricinfo just uncritically tweeted this statement. 030
Bertus de Jong @bdjcricket.bsky.social · 04/05/2025Off to the Bos again for the #CWCL2 tri-series opener - some Scottish nostalia tunes for the bike down: Teenage Fanclub - A Catholic Education www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nj-HgIxh6P0… 020
Bertus de Jong @bdjcricket.bsky.social · 02/05/2025Just me planning some WT20I rankings strategies with aspiring teams here when the ICC come in with their sudden women's update... youtu.be/wKbU8B-QVZk?...youtu.beI Can't Believe You've Done ThisYouTube video by PWee28 020
Bertus de Jong @bdjcricket.bsky.social · 02/05/2025Occurs, incidentally, that Billy Bragg's "Fight Songs" must be a strong contender for worst album released at least 15 years after debut. 100
Bertus de Jong @bdjcricket.bsky.social · 02/05/2025Eh, boringly and unwokely then I guess. I'm not listening to that whole podcast though it looks unutterably tedious. Also it's got Billy Bragg on. 100
Bertus de Jong @bdjcricket.bsky.social · 02/05/2025Oh also worth noting With Teeth also qualifies. 110
Bertus de Jong @bdjcricket.bsky.social · 02/05/2025Personal favourite here. The actual correct answer to this question is Graceland tho, boringly. 210
Bertus de Jong @bdjcricket.bsky.social · 02/05/2025I thought the Fourth Home Rule Bill did away with these like a hundred years ago? 020
Bertus de Jong @bdjcricket.bsky.social · 01/05/2025Happy ICC Men's ODI & T20I Team Rankings Update Day to all who celebrate. 040
Bertus de Jong @bdjcricket.bsky.social · 20/04/2025And if Taylor didn't know the math out there, then that's on her and the Windies backroom. 010
Bertus de Jong @bdjcricket.bsky.social · 20/04/2025There's already a rule in the list to prevent bowling sides from sabotaging NRR chases with wides/no-balls etc. In this case tho the outcome is fair IMO. Windies sabotaged themselves by letting earlier games drift, esp vs Bangladesh. 010
Bertus de Jong @bdjcricket.bsky.social · 04/02/2025Yeah from memory L2 is four games at VRA, three at Kampong. UAE and SCO playing an extra catch up. Both the women's and men's T20 qualifiers are apparently single-venue. Which seems mental but that's the schedule I've seen. 100
Bertus de Jong @bdjcricket.bsky.social · 31/01/2025I suspect it was set up to make bankrolling the abortive Scottish league simpler, but honestly who knows how complicated it'll be for US companies to do business in Canada by the summer? (Assuming there's still a Canada by then) 110
Bertus de Jong @bdjcricket.bsky.social · 31/01/2025Yeah it's an accountants. Presumably just registered there. 110
Bertus de Jong @bdjcricket.bsky.social · 31/01/2025Intriguingly, the Canadian press is describing Star 333 Sports, sponsor of the promised "Canada Super 60," as a UK-based company. Back when they were backing the Scottish Super 10 (that never happened) they were US-based. Fairly sure it's still Abhishek Shah. Guess he moved? 121
Bertus de Jong @bdjcricket.bsky.social · 30/01/2025Have to say it was a bit disappointing to see only a single-camera silent stream for Afghanistan WXI vs CWB XI today given the significance. Okay cameras aren't cheap but how hard is it to wire up a mic for comms? There's a story to be told and surely plenty willing to tell it? 082
Bertus de Jong @bdjcricket.bsky.social · 17/01/2025The League 2 tri-series? I think it's start of May. 2nd-16th is what I'd heard. 110
