Max O'Dowd

{{Infobox cricketer

| name = Max O'Dowd

| image =

| country = Netherlands

| fullname = Maxwell Patrick O'Dowd

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1994|3|4|df=yes}}

| birth_place = Auckland, New Zealand

| batting = Right-handed

| bowling = Right-arm off spin

| role = Batsman

| family = Alex O'Dowd (father)

| international = true

| internationalspan = 2015–present

| odidebutdate = 19 June

| odidebutyear = 2019

| odidebutagainst = Zimbabwe

| odicap = 66

| lastodidate = 12 June

| lastodiyear = 2025

| lastodiagainst = Scotland

| odishirt = 4

| T20Idebutdate = 1 July

| T20Idebutyear = 2015

| T20Idebutagainst = Nepal

| T20Icap = 31

| lastT20Idate = 16 November

| lastT20Iyear = 2024

| lastT20Iagainst = Oman

| T20Ishirt = 4

| club1 = Auckland

| year1 = 2022/23

| club2 = Chattogram Challengers

| year2 = 2023

| columns = 4

| column1 = ODI

| matches1 = 65

| runs1 = 2,153

| bat avg1 = 35.88

| 100s/50s1 = 1/15

| top score1 = 158*

| deliveries1 = 129

| wickets1 = 1

| bowl avg1 = 149.00

| fivefor1 = 0

| tenfor1 = 0

| best bowling1 = 1/16

| catches/stumpings1 = 17/–

| column2 = T20I

| matches2 = 77

| runs2 = 2,034

| bat avg2 = 29.05

| 100s/50s2 = 1/14

| top score2 = 133*

| deliveries2 = 94

| wickets2 = 4

| bowl avg2 = 32.00

| fivefor2 = 0

| tenfor2 = 0

| best bowling2 = 1/7

| catches/stumpings2 = 27/–

| column3 = FC

| matches3 = 5

| runs3 = 326

| bat avg3 = 40.75

| 100s/50s3 = 2/0

| top score3 = 126

| deliveries3 = 444

| wickets3 = 6

| bowl avg3 = 53.50

| fivefor3 = 0

| tenfor3 = 0

| best bowling3 = 2/26

| catches/stumpings3 = 1/–

| column4 = LA

| matches4 = 79

| runs4 = 2,393

| bat avg4 = 33.70

| 100s/50s4 = 1/16

| top score4 = 158*

| deliveries4 = 291

| wickets4 = 4

| bowl avg4 = 74.50

| fivefor4 = 0

| tenfor4 = 0

| best bowling4 = 1/16

| catches/stumpings4 = 27/–

| date = 12 June

| year = 2025

| source = http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/player/643197.html Cricinfo

}}

Maxwell Patrick O'Dowd (born 4 March 1994) is a New Zealand-born Dutch international cricketer who made his debut for the Netherlands national cricket team in June 2015. He is a right-handed opening batsman and has played for the Netherlands in three editions of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup.

Personal life

O'Dowd was born on 4 March 1994 in Auckland, New Zealand.{{cite news|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/player/max-o-dowd-643197|title=Max O'Dowd|publisher=ESPNcricinfo|accessdate=21 October 2022}} His father Alex O'Dowd played first-class cricket in New Zealand for Auckland and Northern Districts,[https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/18/18655/18655.html Alex O'Dowd] – CricketArchive. Retrieved 16 June 2015. and played and coached club cricket in the Netherlands for HBS Craeyenhout.{{cite web | url=https://www.hbs-craeyenhout.nl/index.php?page=936 | title=Best Cricket Team of HBS | publisher=HBS Craeyenhout | date=December 17, 2017 | accessdate=July 10, 2019}}

O'Dowd holds a Dutch passport through his mother.{{cite news|url=https://www.cricbuzz.com/profiles/10424/max-odowd#!#profile|title=Max O'Dowd|publisher=Cricbuzz|accessdate=21 October 2022}} He lived in the Netherlands until the age of twelve,{{Cite tweet |user=Maxiboi23|number=1583235251132071937|title=Just fyi I did grow up in the Netherlands and played cricket for the Dutch youth teams from the age of 6 to 12!}} before returning to Auckland and attending Westlake Boys High School.

Domestic and franchise career

O'Dowd played for the Netherlands national under-19 cricket team in the month-long 2012 European Challenge Series. His tournament included a five-wicket haul (5/20) against Jersey, and two half-centuries (against Jersey and Guernsey).Ingrid van der Elst (3 August 2012). [http://kncb.nl/archiv/u19-wint-drie-keer-van-guernsey/ "U19 wint drie keer van Guernsey en Jersey"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304091117/http://kncb.nl/archiv/u19-wint-drie-keer-van-guernsey/ |date=4 March 2016 }} – Koninklijke Nederlandse Cricket Bond (Dutch). Retrieved 16 June 2015.

Back in New Zealand for the 2012–13 season, O'Dowd played every match for the Auckland under-19s in the National Under-19 Tournament.[https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/1348/1348589/Miscellaneous_Matches.html Miscellaneous matches played by Max O'Dowd] – CricketArchive. Retrieved 16 June 2015. He played club cricket in England in 2013, and also appeared in a single match in the Second Eleven Championship in the same season, playing for Nottinghamshire.[https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/1348/1348589/Second_Eleven_Championship_Matches.html Second Eleven Championship matches played by Max O'Dowd] – CricketArchive. Retrieved 16 June 2015. O'Dowd played regularly for Auckland A during the 2014–15 New Zealand season. For the 2015 season, he signed for the Northern Hurricanes franchise in the North Sea Pro Series, a professional league which features teams from the Netherlands and Scotland.

In July 2019, he was selected to play for the Rotterdam Rhinos in the inaugural edition of the Euro T20 Slam cricket tournament.{{cite web|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/_/id/27222261/eoin-morgan-represent-dublin-franchise-inaugural-euro-t20-slam |title=Eoin Morgan to represent Dublin franchise in inaugural Euro T20 Slam |work=ESPN Cricinfo |access-date=19 July 2019}}{{cite web |url=https://www.cricketeurope.com/DATABASE/ARTICLES2019/articles/000010/001060.shtml |title=Euro T20 Slam Player Draft completed |work=Cricket Europe |access-date=19 July 2019 |archive-date=19 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190719163945/https://www.cricketeurope.com/DATABASE/ARTICLES2019/articles/000010/001060.shtml |url-status=dead }} However, the following month the tournament was cancelled.{{cite web|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/_/id/27387389/inaugural-euro-t20-slam-cancelled-two-weeks-notice |title=Inaugural Euro T20 Slam cancelled at two weeks' notice |work=ESPN Cricinfo |access-date=14 August 2019}}

International career

In June 2015, O'Dowd made his senior debut for the Netherlands in an Intercontinental Cup match against Papua New Guinea. He scored 14 runs in the first innings before being dismissed by Loa Nou, and in the second innings was out to Willie Gavera for a five-ball duck. Brought on to bowl in Papua New Guinea's second innings, he took the wicket of Lega Siaka with his fourth ball in first-class cricket, finishing with 1/44.[http://www.espncricinfo.com/icc-intercontinental-cup-2015-17/engine/match/870879.html ICC Intercontinental Cup, Netherlands v Papua New Guinea at Amstelveen, Jun 16–19, 2015] – ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 16 June 2015. O'Dowd had not been named in the initial squad for that match.(11 June 2015). [http://www.cricketeurope4.net/DATABASE/ARTICLES2015/articles/000037/003715.shtml "Netherlands, PNG squads for I-Cup and WCLC matches announced"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150617144018/http://www.cricketeurope4.net/DATABASE/ARTICLES2015/articles/000037/003715.shtml |date=17 June 2015 }} – Cricket Europe. Retrieved 16 June 2015.

O'Dowd made his Twenty20 International debut for the Netherlands against Nepal on 1 July 2015.{{Cite web|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/883343.html |title=Nepal tour of Netherlands, 2nd T20I: Netherlands v Nepal at Amstelveen, Jul 1, 2015 |access-date=1 July 2015 |work=ESPN Cricinfo}} He was named in the Dutch squads for both the WCL Championship fixture against PNG and the 2015 World Twenty20 Qualifier.[http://www.espncricinfo.com/icc-world-twenty20-qualifier-2015/content/squad/886635.html Netherlands Squad / Players, ICC WORLD TWENTY20 QUALIFIER] – ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 16 June 2015. He made his List A debut in the WCL Championship against Scotland on 14 September 2015.{{cite web |url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/911037.html |title=ICC World Cricket League Championship, 9th Match: Netherlands v Scotland at Amstelveen, Sep 14, 2015 |access-date=14 September 2015 |work=ESPNCricinfo}}

In July 2018, he was named in the Netherlands One Day International (ODI) squad, for their series against Nepal, but did not make it to the playing eleven.{{cite web |url=http://kncb.nl/selecties-nederlands-xi-lords-en-nepal/ |title=Selecties Nederlands XI voor Lord's en Nepal |work=KNCB |access-date=23 July 2018}} In June 2019, he was named in the Netherlands' ODI squad for their series against Zimbabwe.{{cite web|url=https://www.cricketworld.com/netherlands-vs-zimbabwe-odi-t20-series/56954.htm |title=Netherlands vs Zimbabwe: ODI & T20 Series |work=Cricket World |access-date=12 June 2019}} He made his ODI debut against Zimbabwe on 19 June 2019.{{Cite web|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/1188377.html |title=1st ODI, Zimbabwe tour of Netherlands and Ireland at Deventer, Jun 19 2019 |access-date=19 June 2019 |work=ESPN Cricinfo}}

In September 2019, he was named in the Dutch squad for the 2019 ICC T20 World Cup Qualifier tournament in the United Arab Emirates.{{cite web|url=https://www.kncb.nl/en/news/ryan-campbell-announces-squad-for-t20-world-cup-qualifier/ |title=Ryan Campbell announces squad for T20 World Cup Qualifier |work=Royal Dutch Cricket Association |access-date=8 September 2019}} In April 2020, he was one of seventeen Dutch-based cricketers to be named in the team's senior squad.{{cite web |url=https://www.cricketeurope.com/DATABASE/ARTICLES2020/articles/000004/000430.shtml |title=Dutch men's squads announced |work=Cricket Europe |access-date=6 May 2020 |archive-date=25 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210225054222/https://www.cricketeurope.com/DATABASE/ARTICLES2020/articles/000004/000430.shtml |url-status=dead }}

In March 2021, O'Dowd was named in the Dutch squad for the 2020–21 Nepal Tri-Nation Series.{{cite web|url=https://www.kncb.nl/en/news/t20i-tri-series-in-nepal/ |title=Tri-Nations T20I series in Nepal |work=Royal Dutch Cricket Association |access-date=25 March 2021}} In the second match of the tournament, against Malaysia, O'Dowd scored 133 not out from 73 balls, and became the first batsman for the Netherlands to score a century in a T20I match.{{cite web |url=https://www.cricketeurope.com/DATABASE/ARTICLES2021/articles/000004/000456.shtml |title=O'Dowd blitz secures Dutch win |work=Cricket Europe |access-date=18 April 2021 |archive-date=18 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210418103335/https://www.cricketeurope.com/DATABASE/ARTICLES2021/articles/000004/000456.shtml |url-status=dead }} In May 2021, during the first ODI between Netherlands and Scotland, he became the second batsman to score half-centuries in each of his first three ODI matches after Tom Cooper.{{Cite web|title=How many players have started their careers with three successive fifties in ODIs?|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/ask-steven-how-many-players-have-started-their-careers-with-three-successive-fifties-in-odis-1263977|access-date=2021-06-01|website=ESPNcricinfo|language=en}}

In September 2021, O'Dowd was named in the Dutch squad for the 2021 ICC Men's T20 World Cup.{{cite web|url=https://www.kncb.nl/en/news/dutch-icc-mens-t20-world-cup-squad-announced/ |title=Dutch ICC Men's T20 World Cup squad announced |work=Royal Dutch Cricket Association |access-date=10 September 2021}}

During the West Indies tour of the Netherlands in 2022, O’Dowd was the top scorer, with 179 runs across three matches, including 89 in the final game.{{cite web|url=https://www.kncb.nl/en/news/third-odi-against-west-indies/ |title=The Netherlands go down fighting in third ODI against West Indies |work=Royal Dutch Cricket Association |access-date=5 June 2022}}

In September 2023, he was named in the Netherlands squad for the 2023 ICC Men's ODI World Cup.{{Cite web |last=icc |title=Cricket News |url=https://www.icc-cricket.com/news |access-date=2025-05-17 |website=icc |language=en}}

In May 2024, he was named in the Netherlands squad for the 2024 ICC Men's T20 World Cup tournament.{{Cite web |title=Netherlands' Squad for ICC Men's T20I World Cup |url=https://www.scorewaves.com/news-details/netherlands-squad-for-t20-world-cup |access-date=2024-06-05 |website=ScoreWaves |language=en}}

On 12 June 2025, O'Dowd set a new record for the highest individual score by a Netherlands batter in an ODI, making 158 not out against Scotland at Forthill.{{cite web|url=https://www.cricket.com/news/third-highest-run-chase-in-odis-max-odowd-and-netherlands-create-history-against-scotland-netherlands-vs-scotland-highest-run-chase-odis-6122025-1749752402733|title=Third-Highest ODI Run-Chase - Max O’Dowd, Netherlands Create History Against Scotland|publisher=cricket.com|accessdate=12 June 2025}}