Van Meekeren describes how Dutch drivers upset Uber drivers.

Paul Van Mekeeren has the option to reject the offer, which he did. After taking part in the Netherlands’ stunning World Cup victory over South Africa, Van Meekeren said in Dharamsala on Tuesday, “Two brothers ordered from the same fish-and-chip shop.” The one I went to second offered me 10 pounds if I would go to his place first instead of to his brother’s. I threatened the first brother – if he didn’t give me 10 pounds I would stamp on his food.”

All of this was said in jest; no real attempt at bribery was made, and no cash was exchanged other than for the fish and chips at the advertised price. Even so, the circumstances of the story are instructive and true.

Van Meekeren let go Somerset after the 2019 campaign, in a part because he was unable to participate in a single game for the starting XI due to an incorrectly diagnosed injury. His backup plan to make money playing cricket for club and country second XIs in England failed, and the pandemic caused the 2020 T20 World Cup to be postponed.

What can you do to earn money in the UK during the winter? Van Meekeren turned to a job driving and delivering for Uber Eats, even getting the Santa Claus outfit delivery drivers are expected to wear in December, despite how ridiculous it makes them look. This was a solution that didn’t require the seam bowling abilities he had spent years developing and honing in the Netherlands and England.

But for Van Mekeeren, Chtistmas did come again-in a cricket sense. Since then, he has played for Durham and Gloucestershire as well as in the LPL and CPL, and he has emerged as a key player for a Dutch team that finds a way to triumph despite what the rankings and received wisdom suggest.

One such day was Tuesday. The Netherlands, reduced to 140/7, refused to submit and finished with a total of 245/8, a manageable number. Then, at 44/4, they had South Africa in trouble and were close to dismissing them for 207. Aiden Markram and Marco Jansen were cleanbowled by van Meekeren, who did his part.

We felt the pitch was two-paced and up-and-down, so we believed cross-seam would be most beneficial. Dirk Nannes also came to us to tell us that, for most of our innings, we only scored 7% of our runs by playing straight. This was an indication that they bowled too short. So we concentrated on hitting the top of off to get them to play forward. We adapted better than South Africa did.

“The wickets were spread among the bowlers. It wasn’t a one-man show. The captain [Scott Edwards, who scored 78 not out] gave us an opportunity to defend the total with a couple of cameos from [Aryan] Dutt and [Roelof] van der Merwe [who made 29 and 23 not out]. There was a lot of total cricket. It wasn’t just the batters or just the bowlers who stood up. That embodies total cricket.”

Complete cricket? Similar to the tactical system the Dutch developed in which every player, with the exception of the goalkeeper, is capable of attacking, defending, and patrolling the midfield regardless of the position to which they have been assigned? Were the Netherlands attempting to play cricket like Johan Cruyff, the pinnacle of all-time football?

Van Meekeren remarked, “I believe he would have been pleased.” And he may have even given it a shot; until his football coaches persuaded him to stop playing pointless bat-and-ball games when he was 15 years old, Cruyff preferred playing baseball, cricket’s close relative. Who is to say that a young Cruyff, growing up today, wouldn’t kick football into touch after witnessing the inventive confidence the young Dutch display on the cricket field?

“We believe that if we do the right things that you have to do at this level for the right period of time, we can beat any team,” van Meekeren stated. “That’s what we showed today. We didn’t panic when we lost wickets. We took it as deep as we could and gave Scott and the guys the opportunity to accelerate and put a good total on the board.”

The Netherlands’ victory came after losses to Pakistan and New Zealand, but their following match is on Saturday in Lucknow against Sri Lanka. The Lankans have suffered defeats to South Africa, Pakistan, and Australia and may be an easy target for ambitious rivals like the Dutch, who are not alone in this regard.

In Delhi on Sunday, Afghanistan defeated England, according to David Miller. “Whatever sport it is, there are upsets at World Cups. [The Dutch win] was good for the tournament, although not for us.”

Teams that lose to opponents they believe they should defeat wish they could turn down the offer of an entertaining game and an unexpected outcome.