Ashley Noffke Appointed Head Coach of Netherlands Mens Cricket Team

Amstelveen, September 23 (Udaipur Kiran) : The Royal Dutch Cricket Association (KNCB) has appointed former Australian fast bowler Ashley Noffke as the head coach of the Netherlands men's cricket team. His contract is set for two years, extending until 2028. Noffke, 49, succeeds Ryan Cook, who stepped down to spend more time with his family. Previously, Noffke served as an assistant and bowling coach for the Pakistan men's team, including during their recent Test series in Edgbaston.He will now focus on guiding the Netherlands team through the qualification process for the 2027 ODI World Cup and the 2028 T20 World Cup. In a statement released on Wednesday, Noffke expressed his enthusiasm for working with the Netherlands team, which has been a regular competitor in T20 World Cups. "This is a talented and motivated group, and my goal is to continue their development and advance the program. My approach begins with building connections before strategy or planning.I am eager to get started," he said. Noffke had a brief international playing career, featuring in one ODI and two T20 internationals for Australia, and has represented Queensland, Western Australia, and four English county teams in first-class cricket. He also played for the Royal Challengers Bangalore in the inaugural IPL match against Kolkata Knight Riders. Over his career, Noffke took 386 wickets and scored 3,766 runs in first-class cricket and is among the few Australians to achieve 500 runs and 50 wickets in a single domestic season.Transitioning into coaching, Noffke has made a significant mark in both franchise and international setups. He led Brisbane Heat to a Women's Big Bash League title, won the WNCL trophy with Queensland Fire, and helped London Spirit secure their first title in 'The Hundred.' Additionally, he has served as an assistant and bowling coach for UP Warriors in the Women's Premier League in India. After managing Otago's men's program in New Zealand, Noffke worked alongside Mike Hesson as an assistant coach and bowling lead for the Pakistan men's team, guiding them to the Super 8 stage of the T20 World Cup 2026 and the finals of the Asia Cup 2025.