Hermes were extremely dependent upon international Stef Myburgh and veteran Nick Statham for their runs last season, with the 678 and 664 they contributed respectively – both averaging over 50 – accounting for well over half the side’s total tally.
And that dependency is further underlined by the retirement of two seasoned players in opener Harro Seelaar and wicketkeeper Bart Schilperoord.
On the credit side, the Schiedammers will welcome the arrival of Daniel ter Braak, whose father played for both Hermes and local rivals Excelsior ’20 before emigrating to New Zealand. The younger Ter Braak and his brother Ross are now members of the highly-successful Takapuna side in the Auckland competition, and he will undoubtedly add a great deal to the Hermes top order.
Allrounder Sebastiaan Braat now counts as one of the most experienced players in a very young squad, and he will spearhead a seam attack which also includes Omar Bacchus and Henrico Venter as well as Davi van Slobbe and Olivier Elenbaas.
Hermes’ leading wicket-taker last season was spinner Manminder Singh, who claimed 28 wickets at 17.04, and he will again add variety to the attack.
Not for the first time, however, the question will be whether Hermes are able to put together big enough totals to challenge the stronger teams in the competition.
HCC have been hit hard by the departure of long-serving former international Tom de Grooth from De Diepput to Voorburg, and all the more so since he has been accompanied by talented leg-spinner Philippe Boissevain, who established himself in the first team last season.
South African Jonathan Vandiar will be back for a third season in Den Haag, and will be joined this time by Indian off-spinner Ryan Ninan, who takes over the role played by Werner Coetsee in 2016.
HCC will field a menacing pace attack, with Mark Jonkman – the leading wicket-taker in the competition last year with 34 wickets at 16.35 – supported by left-armer Reinier Bijloos, promising allrounder Hidde Overdijk, the much-improved Floris de Lange, and the experienced Olivier Klaus, backed up by Ali Ahmad Qasim.
The Diepput club’s season was blighted by injuries last year, and fingers will be crossed that young players like Tonny Staal and Joost van Kessel are able to stay fit this time. Consistent runs from Staal and his younger colleague Boris Gorlee will be important to back up the contributions of Vandiar and Ninan.
Wicketkeeper Bart Kuipéri chips in with useful innings as well, but it must be a frustration for HCC that Bharat Itagi, one of the mainstays of the Second side, is unable to play regularly in the Topklasse because of the restriction of overseas players.
On the other hand, the club has a number of young players, such as Jan Wieger Overdijk, Daniel Trijzelaar and Laurens Lagas, all of whom made first-team appearances in 2016, and with the Second team playing in the Hoofdklasse this season it will be hoped that they will come through to claim a position in the top flight.
Previous previews: VOC and VRA, HBS and Punjab.