Scott Edwards - Netherlands - WK-Batsman

Tonga-born and Melbourne-raised, Netherlands keeper-captain Scott Edwards had little inclination that a summer in 2015 spent playing at Schiedam club Excelsior ‘20 as an 18 year-old would result in him leading the Dutch to two World Cups. Inheriting his grandmother’s Dutch nationality through his father, Edwards 'Topklasse' performances caught the eye of Netherlands coach Ryan Campbell, and when an injury to Tobias Visée left the Dutch in need of a keeper Edwards answered the call. He made his international debut in the Netherlands’ final Intercontinental Cup match against Namibia in 2017, taking five catches and a stumping in what remains his only First Class match to date.

A naturally gifted, largely self-taught keeper, Edwards honed his technique under Campbell’s guidance after taking the gloves full-time for the Dutch. Adopting a floating role in the middle order, Edwards’ batting is characterised by finesse rather than power - frustrating fields with aggressive running coupled with an array of sweeps and reverses that he credits to long hours in the Excelsior nets training with South Australia’s Alex Ross, whose \"sweepologist\" moniker he has inherited. Now based in the Netherlands playing for VOC Rotterdam, Edwards still spends the northern winters back in Melbourne with Richmond CC when the international schedule allows, winning the Jack Ryder Medal in 2021.

Growing into the role of a senior player for the Dutch, during the Netherlands’ Super League campaign Edwards became a mainstay in a batting order often beset by availability issues. After striking three consecutive half-centuries against Afghanistan in early 2022, Edwards would repeat the trick against England in the marquee series of the Netherlands’ home summer. When skipper Pieter Seelaar was forced into retirement by a back injury in the middle of that series, Edwards stepped up to take the armband. His leadership has since seen the Netherlands to remarkable success, a top 8 finish at the 2022 T20 World Cup to securing direct qualification for the next edition, while a run to the final of the 2023 50-over World Cup Qualifier in Zimbabwe saw them qualify ahead of full members West Indies, Zimbabwe and Ireland as Edwards led the Dutch back to the ICC’s pinnacle event after an absence of over a decade.