Colin Niel Ackermann is a talented and versatile cricketer hailing from the Netherlands. Born on February 19, 1991, in Port Elizabeth, South Africa, he made the decision to relinquish his South African qualification in order to pursue a professional cricket career in Leicestershire, England, taking advantage of his EU passport.
Ackermann’s cricketing journey began at a young age, and he represented his school, Grey High School in Port Elizabeth, where he excelled both as a batsman and off-spin bowler. He even had the opportunity to tour England with his school team.
In 2009, Ackermann emerged as the leading run-scorer in the CSA Under-19 three-day competition, finishing with an incredible average of 200 and scoring two centuries. These impressive performances caught the attention of cricket scouts and marked the start of his professional career.
After completing his education, Ackermann joined Leicestershire in England and made an immediate impact. Although his performances in county cricket were solid rather than flashy, he showcased his off-spin skills on occasions, achieving remarkable figures of 7 for 18 in a T20 Blast match against Birmingham Bears. This outstanding bowling performance made him the first player to take a seven-wicket haul in the T20 format.
In his first season at Leicestershire, Ackermann captained the T20 team and continued to excel, eventually taking on the captaincy full-time in 2019. His leadership skills were not limited to the T20 format, as he also stepped up to lead the 50-over side, while also topping the run charts in both limited-overs formats.
Ackermann’s contributions to Leicestershire did not go unnoticed, and in 2021, he was appointed as the club captain, illustrating his growing importance and influence. The following year, in 2022, he etched his name in history when he scored a career-best unbeaten 277 runs, leading Leicestershire to their highest first-class score of 756 for 4 dec. He also had a record-breaking partnership of 477 runs for the fifth wicket with Wiaan Mulder, who himself scored an unbeaten 235 runs.
Although Ackermann had the potential to represent South Africa at an international level, his debut in late 2019 was for the Netherlands national cricket team. He played a pivotal role in securing qualification for the 2020 T20 World Cup, which was subsequently postponed to 2021 due to the global pandemic. At the tournament held in Australia in 2022, Ackermann contributed significantly with an unbeaten 41 runs, helping the Netherlands achieve one of the biggest upsets in the tournament’s history – eliminating his former countrymen, South Africa, in a 13-run defeat in Adelaide.
Colin Ackermann’s career is a testament to his talent, versatility, and leadership qualities. From his early successes in school cricket to his impactful performances in county cricket and now on the international stage, Ackermann continues to leave an indelible mark on the game. As he continues to develop, he undoubtedly has the potential to become one of the leading cricketers in the Netherlands and leave a lasting legacy in the world of cricket.
