Scott Edwards has stepped down as captain of the Netherlands men's cricket team, ending a four-year stint that spanned 56 One-Day Internationals. Bas de Leede, the 26-year-old fast-bowling all-rounder, will take charge for the remainder of the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup League 2 campaign. Edwards announced his decision to teammates after the League 2 matches in Utrecht concluded on Friday, 1 August 2025.

Edwards' Announcement

In a video released by the Royal Dutch Cricket Association, Edwards addressed his squad directly, acknowledging the suddenness of the decision. 'I'm sorry for coming to this with you guys somewhat suddenly, but I'm actually going to be giving up my position as captain from here on,' he said.

Edwards indicated the move had been discussed with Ryan Cook, known as 'Cookie', and other stakeholders over a period of time. 'I think that I have a lot more to contribute as a player and that's definitely my aim for the future,' he added, expressing his continued commitment to the Dutch side. 'I believe this is such a special team. The world is open to us and I'm really looking forward to what's ahead.'

A Captaincy Defined by Giant-Killing

The 29-year-old wicketkeeper-batter assumed the captaincy following the first ODI of England's tour of the Netherlands in June 2022, succeeding Pieter Seelaar. Under his leadership, the Netherlands won 24 of 56 ODIs — a record punctuated by landmark upsets.

The most celebrated of those came at the 2023 ODI World Cup, where the Dutch defeated South Africa in Dharamsala and Bangladesh in Kolkata, announcing themselves as genuine disruptors on the global stage. Edwards also led the side in 50 T20 Internationals, including memorable wins over Zimbabwe and South Africa at the 2022 T20 World Cup — the latter result sending the Proteas out of the tournament.

De Leede's Tribute and New Responsibility

Incoming captain Bas de Leede paid an emotional tribute to his predecessor, crediting Edwards with transforming the belief system within the squad. 'Even if a portion of us had not believed in ourselves or in the team, the fact that you were able to explain to us each and every game, day after day, what the plan was and how it would be carried out was something special,' de Leede said.

De Leede emphasised the selflessness at the core of Edwards' leadership. 'It takes a great deal of selflessness on a player's part to place others in the best possible position to perform. That's quite special,' he noted, adding that he was 'very excited' about Edwards' future as a player.

What's at Stake in League 2

The Netherlands currently sit second in the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup League 2 standings, behind the United States. With the top four teams earning qualification for the Cricket World Cup Qualifier, De Leede's immediate task is to steer the Dutch through their remaining fixtures against Oman and the United Arab Emirates later this year. The leadership transition comes at a critical juncture — Netherlands' qualification ambitions hang on those results.