Wesley Barresi calls it a day

Long-serving Dutch batsman Wesley Barresi has announced his retirement from all cricket at the age of 36.

Between his first appearance in Dutch colours in 2009 and his final game ten years later he made 4614 runs across all formats, his highest international score his unbeaten 137 against Kenya at Lincoln in the World Cup Qualifier in 2013-14.

For much of that decade he was one of the Netherlands’ most dependable batsmen, and his opening partnership with Stef Myburgh was a feature of the World T20 Qualifier in the UAE in 2013, when he plundered the Scottish attack in particular, making 70 and 75 not out in the two matches between the sides.

But he has not played for the national side since July 2019, and has now decided to draw a line under his career after 192 matches across the three formats.

‘The world of cricket doesn’t quite understand the sacrifice, dedication and self-motivation that goes into being an Associate cricketer,’ Barresi said on announcing his retirement.

‘I’ve been incredibly privileged not only to participate in three World Cups, represent a country and achieve some memorable feats, but more importantly I’ve had the pleasure of doing this for eighteen years.’

At his best in one-day cricket, where his 2892 runs came at an average of 30.12, Barresi made 19 half-centuries as well as his two hundreds, and for several years he made the number three spot his own, averaging 40.95 in that position.

Initially a wicketkeeper-batsman, he took 142 catches behind the stumps to go with 29 stumpings, but latterly he turned to off-spin, taking three for 42 in his final first-class match, against Ireland at Malahide.

Barresi grew up in South Africa and played seven times for Easterns between 2004 and 2006, making 57 on his first-class debut in a Provincial Cup match, before settling in the Netherlands.

He was a key member of VRA’s side from 2006 to 2012, and then spent five seasons at Quick Haag and a further two with their next-door neighbours HBS Craeyenhout.
In all he made 7198 runs in the Dutch top flight at an average of 35.11, the highest of his ten centuries 185 not out for Quick against Dosti United in 2013. But his finest was perhaps his last, a blistering, match-winning 126 not out made from 93 deliveries for HBS against HCC in 2019.

As a wicketkeeper he claimed 110 catches and 32 stumpings, as well as a further 59 catches in the field, while having developed a third skill as an off-spinner he claimed 59 top-flight wickets at a respectable average of 25.92.

At his best, Barresi could tear an attack to shreds, and his contribution to Dutch cricket, at both club and international level, has been enormous.

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