The 2025 Dutch Cricket Awards, announced on Sunday, celebrated the exceptional performances of Max O'Dowd, Roelof van der Merwe, and Iris Zwilling over the past year. The annual awards event recognized their contributions to Dutch cricket across formats, underscoring their pivotal roles in the national team's successes.
This year’s Tim de Leede Medal, awarded to best male cricketer of the year, was jointly awarded to Max O’Dowd and Roelof van der Merwe, while the Helmien Rambaldo Medal went to Iris Zwilling, awarded to female cricketer of the year, for her stellar contributions to the women’s team.
O’Dowd and Van der Merwe Share Tim de Leede Medal
Max O’Dowd’s consistency with the bat has been a cornerstone for the Netherlands. His unbeaten 158 against Scotland in June 2025 helped the team chase down a record target of 369 in a Cricket World Cup League 2 encounter. O’Dowd smashed 750 runs at an impressive average of 46.87 in ODIs from August 2024 to September 2025.
His ability to anchor innings and accelerate when needed was instrumental during the Netherlands’ successful qualification for the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. O’Dowd scored 456 runs in 16 T20I innings, striking at 131. His 92* (57) against Guernsey during the European qualifiers was his standout performance in the format in this past year. In November 2024, O’Dowd struck a 66 against Oman during which he became the first Dutch player to go past the 2000-run mark.
Van der Merwe’s all-round brilliance complemented O’Dowd’s efforts. The veteran spinner and lower-order batter delivered key performances throughout the season, helping the Netherlands secure victories at crucial junctures. The 40-year-old, snapped three wickets for 15 runs earning the Player of the Match award against Italy at the ICC Men's T20 World Cup European Qualifiers game against Italy. In addition, he made some handy contributions lower down the order from time to time. In ODIs, he took 16 wickets at an impressive economy rate of 4.38, underlining his role as a dependable match-winner. In November 2024, Van der Merwe claimed a twin three wicket hauls against UAE and Oman during the Cricket World Cup League 2.
Iris Zwilling Wins Helmien Rambaldo Medal
Iris Zwilling’s remarkable displays in the women’s setup earned her the Helmien Rambaldo Medal. Zwilling’s contributions have been invaluable. Her spell of 3 wickets for 6 runs against Germany in August 2025, including a maiden over, was one of the highlights of the year.
Zwilling was also instrumental in the Netherlands’ qualification for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 Global Qualifier, where she delivered consistent performances with both bat and ball, helping her side navigate tough group-stage encounters. Zwilling ended as the joint-top wicket taker in ICC Women's T20 World Cup European Qualifiers Division 1. Zwilling, who turned 24 last week, bagged 26 wickets in T20Is at 4.84 ER and has been the leader of the Dutch bowling attack.
A Year of Milestones
The awards ceremony marked not just individual brilliance but also the progress of Dutch cricket on the global stage. Both the men’s and women’s teams have made significant strides, the men securing a place in the 2026 T20 World Cup and the women booking their spot in the global qualifier for the same tournament.
These achievements are a testament to the growing strength, depth, and competitive spirit of Dutch cricket, with players like O’Dowd, van der Merwe, and Zwilling at the forefront of this journey.
