Netherland’s Sybrand Engelbrecht announces retirement from international cricket
The 35-year-old represented the Netherlands in the Cricket World Cup 2023 and the ongoing T20 World Cup.
The Netherlands confirmed Sybrand Engelbrecht's retirement from all forms of international cricket. The middle-order batter played his last international against Sri Lanka on Sunday as the Netherlands bowed out of the ICC T20 Men’s World Cup 2024.
Born in Johannesburg, Engelbrecht worked diligently to become a professional cricketer. He earned a place in the 2008 U19 Cricket World Cup as a reward for his efforts. Engelbrecht solidified his reputation as a brilliant fielder when he took a flying catch at backward point against Papua New Guinea in the same tournament.
Sybrand Engelbrecht took a stunning catch for Netherlands against Bangladesh in Barbados, 16 years after he pulled off another blinding bit of fielding for South Africa.
In 2016, Engelbrecht decided to shift his focus to a career in financial and project management, announcing retirement from all cricket. After moving to the Netherlands due to work, he started playing club cricket for Voorburg CC, with which he won the Dutch Topklasse championship in 2023.
When the Netherlands qualified for the 2023 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup, Engelbrecht's dream to play international cricket was realized as was called up to the Netherlands national team. He repaid the faith of the selectors by being the highest run-getter for the Netherlands in the tournament, amassing 300 runs at an average of 37.5 which included his highest score of 70 against Sri Lanka
Sybrand Engelbrecht sent a short ball over the roof at Kingstown with a strong pull shot.
In 2024, he earned his selection in the T20 World Cup squad. He continued his form by being the highest run-getter for the Netherlands, scoring 98 at 24.5 with a best of 40 against South Africa.
Engelbrecht famously replicated his fielding heroics when he took a brilliant catch against Bangladesh and again in his last international appearance where he made a stunning boundary-line save against Sri Lanka.
At 35, Engelbrecht retires from international cricket after playing in 12 ODIs and as many T20Is for the Netherlands. In ODI cricket, he scored 385 runs at an average of 35, including two half-centuries. In T20Is, he amassed 280 runs at an average of 31.11, with a top score of 75, and took 5 wickets.