Netherlands batter Ben Cooper announces international retirement

Netherlands batter Ben Cooper has announced his retirement from international cricket. Cooper, who made his international debut for the Dutch in 2013, has played 13 ODIs and 58 T20Is. He took to Twitter to make the announcement. 

The 29-year-old is also the leading run-getter for his country in T20Is, having slammed 1,239 runs at 28.15 with a strike-rate of 124.77, with nine 50-plus scores to his name - the joint-highest.

Thanks to everyone who’s supported me throughout my journey with @KNCBcricket it’s been unreal but it’s time for me to move on in to the next stage of my life. pic.twitter.com/aBS8FPHmwC

— Ben N Cooper (@bencooper_32) January 29, 2022

He is also one of 10 Netherlands batters to have scored over 1,000 runs across formats for his country at the international stage.

Cooper last played for the Dutch in the T20 World Cup in October last year, scoring 0 and 9 in his two opportunities. Netherlands failed to win a single game in the tournament, including being bundled out for just 44 in their final group stage game against Sri Lanka. 

However, the southpaw finished as Netherlands' leading run-scorer in the 2019 T20 World Cup Qualifier, finishing with 246 runs at 30.75 as his side went on to win the title, enabling them to participate in the mega event last year.

After playing in the ODI series against Ireland at home, Cooper did not find a place in the side for the ODI series against South Africa and more recently against Afghanistan in Doha. 

Born in Australia, Cooper made his first-class debut against Afghanistan in 2013. In his second game against Hong Kong he hit his career-best of 173* and along with Pieter Seelaar, he set the highest partnership for the Dutch in first-class cricket, putting on 288.

His brother Tom too played 23 ODIs and 18 T20Is for the Netherlands between 2010 and 2016.