Babette de Leede, captain of the Netherlands women's cricket team, still replays the rain-soaked moment in Kirtipur, Nepal, when her side secured a historic berth at the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2024 in England and Wales — the country's first-ever appearance at the mega event. The Dutch sealed qualification via the DLS method after rain halted their chase of the USA's 129, with the Netherlands comfortably placed at 90 for 2 in 12 overs, ahead by 21 runs on DLS.

The Qualifier Moment That Changed Everything

Contributions from Heather Seager (28 off 12 balls) and Phebe Molkenboer (46 not out) had the Netherlands firmly in control when the heavens opened. When umpires confirmed the result, Babette stood frozen on the pitch — unsure whether to hug teammates, start screaming, or shake hands first.

'The first and last rain we had ever seen in Nepal — so that was interesting and very awkward, but very funny. I think I did all three things together. So, it was just unreal. It was very emotional, especially because we worked so hard for it. Everything had gone to plan — winning our five games, and it was just unreal,' she said ahead of the Netherlands' first-ever Women's T20 World Cup game against Bangladesh in Birmingham on Sunday.

Players and coaching staff celebrated by sliding across the rain covers on the outfield — soaked and freezing, but elated. Many of the players' families were present in the stands, making the moment all the more charged.

A Decade in the Making

The road to this World Cup spans well over a decade. Babette, now 26, played her first global T20 World Cup qualifier in 2015 in Thailand, aged just 16, and the team suffered a clean sweep of defeats. The same result followed in 2018. The Netherlands even failed to qualify for the qualifier at one stage.

The turning point came in 2020 with the appointment of the team's first full-time coach — a structural shift that gave the squad consistent training access around their work and study commitments. Under coach Neil McRae, they finished sixth at the 2024 global qualifier, narrowly missing out but learning what it would take. Crucially, the World Cup field also expanded from 10 to 12 teams, creating four qualifier spots instead of two.

'At least we realised what needed to be done to make it to the next World Cup. Before, there were only two spots for basically eight or ten teams in the qualifier. Now there were four, and I would say we had our eyes on the prize,' Babette said.

A Squad of Doctors, Dentists, and Criminologists

What makes this Netherlands squad extraordinary is not just their cricket. Only Babette and Sterre Kalis — both picked for The Hundred this year — are professional cricketers. Every other player juggles the sport with demanding careers or academic pursuits.

Leg-spinner Caroline de Lange graduated in medicine and worked in neurology before quitting to play in the World Cup. Off-spinner Frédérique Overdijk, who holds the world record of 7 for 3 against France, is in her fifth year of dentistry and treats patients in Amsterdam between matches. Medium pacer Hannah Landheer studies criminology at Erasmus University and revises on rest days during tours. Veteran all-rounder Heather Siegers, with over 1,000 T20I runs, returned from retirement while continuing her job at Tata Steel.

New-ball bowler Iris Zwilling holds a master's in forensic psychology and delayed a full-time job to play at the World Cup. Medium-fast bowler Isabel van der Woning is graduating in occupational therapy and works with brain injury patients alongside restaurant shifts. Myrthe van den Raad studies biopharmaceutical sciences in Leiden and aims for a career in medical research. Robine Rijke, a match-winner in ODIs and T20Is, holds a master's in forensic criminology and works at the Netherlands Gambling Authority. Sanya Khurana, who struck 43 not out against Bangladesh at the qualifiers, studies business management at Cardiff University.

Babette herself suffered burnout in her first year of studying econometrics while balancing cricket and gym sessions. 'It's not an easy subject to pursue. It requires a lot of planning and sacrifices. I was out for one or two months, just lying on the couch watching Netflix. So, it was really, really tough,' she recalled.

Cricket in the Blood

Babette's connection to the game runs deep. Her uncle Tim de Leede — a former Dutch men's all-rounder who claimed 4 for 35 against India in the 2003 Men's ODI World Cup, including the wicket of Sachin Tendulkar — serves as the Dutch women's assistant coach for this tournament. Her cousin Bas de Leede is a mainstay in the Dutch men's setup, and her grandmother will be in the stands in England.

Nobody pushed Babette into the game. She played for fun until 18, when the ICC selected a development squad of girls to travel to England and play in the Kia Super League against Loughborough Lightning, Surrey Stars, and Western Storm. 'I did quite well in those games, and then I realised, okay, maybe this game could take me far,' she said.

She took over the captaincy roughly 18 months ago, initially stepping in when Heather was injured mid-game. She now relishes the tactical dimension — field placements, in-game calculations, and data analysis. 'I love numbers and stats. I do a lot of analysis myself, especially on batters — where they score their runs, what bowlers they get out to, and what shots they play,' she said.

World Cup Ambitions and What's Next

The Netherlands are placed in a formidable group alongside Australia, India, South Africa, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. Their opening game is against Bangladesh in Birmingham. The team is targeting two wins and a top-eight finish, which would guarantee automatic qualification for the 2028 T20 World Cup.

Their matches will be broadcast back home on NOS — the Netherlands' main sports channel — for the very first time, coinciding with heightened sporting attention around the FIFA Men's Football World Cup. Babette, who spends her winters in South Africa on a full-time contract with Boland, believes the English conditions — seam movement, unpredictability, four seasons in an afternoon — will feel familiar to the Dutch squad.

'We're happy that we made it to the World Cup, but we do want to win some games and cause some upsets. It would be insane to win our first-ever T20 World Cup game, and we might write some history there as well. I just hope to make the Dutch cricket community proud. I really hope so that the only way is up,' said Babette.