The word journeyman when used in a sporting context usually has a negative connotation. But when you’re talking about KKR’s South Africa-born Dutch all-rounder Ryan ten Doeschate, all stereotypes are thrown out of the window.
He is supposedly a T20 specialist who has played in almost every new league, yet has solid first-class batting and bowling averages of 47 and 33 respectively. He was eligible to play for both South Africa and England, yet he chose to honour his Dutch roots. In a freewheeling chat with HT, the 32-year-old spoke on a range of topics.
During last year's CLT20, KKR stayed in the same Potchefstroom University accommodation as Spain's football team during the 2010 World Cup…
That was great for me. I'm an Arsenal fan and got to stay in the room that was occupied by Cesc Fabregas. You expect these multi-millionaire footballers to stay in luxury hotels but here they were staying in pretty simple quarters. The setting was quite inspirational for us.
There are people who say you and Force India's Adrian Sutil are long lost twins.
Yeah, the similarity is quite uncanny. When I had long hair, I was told I looked a lot like Fabregas. I'm probably taller than him (laughs). But yeah, that's what I would often hear. Then last year I was in Bangalore and somebody showed me pictures of me and Sutil. I have to say we look quite similar.
There are people who say you and Force India's Adrian Sutil are long lost twins.
Yeah, the similarity is quite uncanny. When I had long hair, I was told I looked a lot like Fabregas. I'm probably taller than him (laughs). But yeah, that's what I would often hear. Then last year I was in Bangalore and somebody showed me pictures of me and Sutil. I have to say we look quite similar.
You first came to attention when Holland upset England in the World T20 in 2009. Is that you're proudest moment?
It's right up there. Obviously it's T20, but still nobody gave us a chance. When we won it was a huge thing.
In the aftermath of the horrific December 16 gang rape you re-tweeted a couple tweets from Shah Rukh Khan and Harbhajan Singh...
I was very angry at the time. An incident like that can happen anywhere… India, South Africa (which has the highest rapes per minute of any country) and it would still draw that much outrage. I was appalled that you could treat people that way…it still leaves me raging inside.