WHEN England open their World Cup campaign against the Netherlands next week former Durham seamer Neil Killeen will be in the opposing camp.

Killeen is to act as bowling coach to the Dutch team for the duration of the event and says: “Of course I want England to win the World Cup, but I would allow myself a wry smile if Holland beat them.”

He knows what it’s like to be on the receiving end of a Dutch beating, having played in the Durham team which became the first county side to lose to Holland.

That was in a 1999 NatWest Trophy tie in the Amsterdam suburb of Amstelveen, where Holland included a South African named Kenny Jackson, a former professional at Killeen’s club, Annfield Plain.

Jackson went in with Holland on 11 for two, but by the time Killeen had him caught at slip for 36 the hosts were well on their way to a fivewicket win.

Killeen, who ended a 15- year first-class career when he retired at the end of last season, has been building his coaching experience for several years. He has helped to coach the Durham Academy, plus the North of England at U12, 13, 14 and 15 level, as well as England Women.

He has been impressed by the willingness to learn of his Dutch charges, saying: “I can’t fault their attitude.

They come in after work to train and some will travel two hours to attend a bowling session.

“They’ve only got three grass pitches in the whole country – the rest are all artificial.

But they have some talented players and they are very dedicated.

Killeen took 262 wickets in 102 first-class matches, but was seen as a limited overs specialist in his last few seasons and is Durham’s leading one-day wicket-taker with 304 in 226 games.

􀁧 The latest project to give Lord’s Cricket Ground a facelift gathered pace last night as the MCC chose their preferred property developers.

The MCC announced they are to enter discussions with Almacantar over the planned building of apartments on the Wellington Road, at the ground’s Nursery End.

Almacantar have been selected from a three-company shortlist, which also included Capital & Counties and Native Land.