Babette de Leede

Babette de Leede is a world-class wicketkeeper-batter who stands as one of the most vital anchors and senior leaders for the Netherlands women’s national cricket team. Born on October 8, 1999, in Voorburg, she belongs to a highly distinguished Dutch cricketing dynasty, being the niece of former men's national captain Tim de Leede and the cousin of current star all-rounder Bas de Leede. She made her formal senior international debut for the Netherlands in 2015 against Ireland at just 15 years old, followed by her official Women’s Twenty20 International (WT20I) debut against the United Arab Emirates in July 2018. Combining lightning-fast reflexes behind the stumps with an aggressive, technically sound right-handed batting style at the top of the order, de Leede quickly transitioned from a promising young prodigy into a cornerstone of the national setup.

On the international stage, de Leede has consistently proven her ability to handle immense pressure, spearheading the Dutch team through crucial global qualifying campaigns and high-profile bilateral series. Her tactical acumen and dependability led to her being named the vice-captain of the national side, and she frequently takes the reins as captain during key transitions, commanding immense respect across European cricket circles. She has crossed major individual milestones, comfortably surpassing 50 WT20I caps and delivering multiple match-winning half-centuries, including a magnificent career-best 78 not out against Germany. Her stellar performances have also earned her overseas recognition, including stints in the English domestic circuit and various European invitational tournaments. As an elite top-order batter and an incredibly safe pair of hands behind the wickets, de Leede remains a central figure in driving the Netherlands' aspirations forward on the global cricket map.