Amstelveen, September 23 (Daily Kiran) : The Royal Dutch Cricket Association (KNCB) has announced the appointment of Ashley Noffke, a former Australian fast bowler, as the head coach of the Netherlands men’s cricket team. His initial contract spans two years, extending until 2028.
Noffke, 49, will take over from Ryan Cook, who stepped down to spend more time with his family. Most recently, Noffke served as an assistant and bowling coach for the Pakistan men’s team, including during the third Test at Edgbaston. He will now focus on guiding the Netherlands team as they prepare for the 2027 ODI World Cup and the qualification for the T20 World Cup in 2028.
In a statement released on Wednesday, Noffke expressed his enthusiasm for working with the Netherlands men’s team, which has consistently competed in T20 World Cups. He described the squad as talented and motivated, emphasizing his goal to continue their development and advance the program. “My approach begins with building connections before strategy or planning. I am very eager to start working,” he said.
Noffke has a brief international playing career, featuring in one ODI and two T20 matches for Australia. He has also represented Queensland, Western Australia, and four English county teams—Durham, Middlesex, Gloucestershire, and Worcestershire—in first-class cricket. Notably, he played in the inaugural IPL match in 2008 for Royal Challengers Bangalore against Kolkata Knight Riders. Over his career, Noffke took 386 wickets and scored 3,766 runs in first-class cricket, becoming one of only three Australians to achieve 500 runs and 50 wickets in a single domestic season.
Transitioning into coaching, Noffke established a strong reputation in major franchises and international setups. He led Brisbane Heat to a Women’s Big Bash League title, secured the WNCL trophy with Queensland Fire, and helped London Spirit clinch their first title in ‘The Hundred.’ Additionally, he served as the assistant and bowling coach for UP Warriors in the Women’s Premier League in India.
After managing the men’s program in Otago, New Zealand, Noffke worked alongside Mike Hesson as an assistant and bowling lead for the Pakistan men’s team, guiding them to the Super 8 stage of the T20 World Cup 2026 and the final of the Asia Cup 2025.
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