Paul-Jan Bakker

Flamingo since 1983

Good cricketer, great smile, top bloke.

This is how former Hampshire captain Mark Nicholas described his teammate Paul-Jan Bakker in a preface to his (auto) biography Nip, cricket nomad from the Netherlands. His words express both affection for the person and appreciation of his cricketing abilities. He fondly remembers the collaboration with his two top bowlers Malcolm Marshall and Paul-Jan. On a pitch with some grass, they could be a deadly combination, Maco's lightening outswingers and PJ's nip-backers. Those were the days! But let's start at the beginning.

Batsman

Paul-Jan Bakker became a member of Quick at the age of seven. His parents thought that he should do some sports in the summer, preferably in a team because he was an only child, that was to be cricket. Paul-Jan: "My first match was against Ajax in Leiden. We fielded in the second innings and it lasted so long for me that I was pissed off. At that point I was fed up with cricket, converted to tennis for a short time, but because I didn't like it at all, turned to cricket again."

In his younger years, Paul-Jan was mainly a batsman. He only bowled as little as possible. That meant that at the age of sixteen, with his debut in the first, he went into number three. It was the time of Henk van Eck, Dick Kramer senior, Henk Hebels and Rob Klijn and the time that youth was gradually being integrated into Quick's main force. "I worked mainly as a batsman for another one or two years, but after that, bowling clearly got the upper hand."

South Africa

After his military service, it was now October 1982, Paul-Jan accepted an offer from coach Du Preez and left for South Africa where he found hospitable shelter with Albert and Joke van Nierop. Albert introduced him to Western Province, where Paul-Jan was allowed to train. A day later, in the apartment of the Van Nierops, he was visited by Hylton Ackerman, against whom he had played in the Netherlands. Paul-Jan: "He asked me to come and have a look at Green Point, the club where he was captain of the first. He picked me up later in the day for a training session after which I lingered at club night. I really liked the atmosphere there, so I ultimately chose Green Point and not Western Province."

For Paul-Jan it was the start of four seasons of the Premier League, a competition with a considerably higher level than that of the Dutch main league. He felt at home in this environment and his performances were excellent. That he trained with Western Province every Wednesday helped him to a considerable extent. He became their leading wicket taker.

Paul-Jan then started spending the summers at Hampshire. "At the end of my first season there, I was given a contract and became a registered player on the list for the first. Only two overseas players were allowed to play on that team at the time and Hampshire with Gordon Greenidge and Malcolm Marshall was already well provided for in that way. Luckily, I was from an EU country, so the rule didn't apply to me."

A great start

Paul-Jan's first first-class match for Hampshire on May 17, 1986, was against India and an instant hit for him as he took the wicket of India's star, Sunil Gavaskar. It wasn’t just this one feat, as in the fourth match for his county, he outwitted Pakistan's national hero Imran Khan. A great start indeed. And the beginning of an intensive period in which he played almost all week and was always on the road. After Paul-Jan acquired a permanent place in the first, he formed a formidable tandem with Malcolm Marshall with whom he had a close relationship. "I often bowled upwind and up the hill and frustrated the batsmen, so they became an easy victim of Malcolm."

In the eight seasons that Paul-Jan played for Hampshire, many memorable things happened, but one match stands out. It took place at Dean Park in Bournemouth against Kent. Paul-Jan was extra motivated because his parents were among the spectators. They only saw him in action on the second and third day. On that last day, Hampshire captain Nicholas declared at 307 for 4 and Kent presented a target of 252. A draw seemed obvious. "The moment I attacked with Cardigan Connor, my parents, afraid of missing the boat in Dover, left the field. Too bad, because it then really became my match. I just kept bowling and finished with 7 for 31 in 13.5 overs. In the Netherlands, my performance even reached Teletext, a medium that normally paid little attention to cricket. "

Neck injury

1989 is the year Paul-Jan was Hampshire's leading wicket taker, and the year he received his cap, a badge of honour that shows how much his achievements were valued for his county. You don't just get a cap you have to work hard for it. And there are plenty of First-class cricketers who must go without a cap despite very decent performances. After this glorious year, a great misfortune came at the end of the 1992 season. Paul-Jan was seriously injured in his neck. In fact, it was so bad that his neck nerves had almost been cut through. At first, he could hardly do anything and then he started to recover very slowly. "Your first thought is, when the hell are things going to get better? When it all goes so slowly, you start to despair. And you should not give too much credit to the medical supervision in England. There was a physio, but he limited himself to some massaging. You were actually left to your own devices."

This serious injury also meant the end of his career at Hampshire. After Mark Nicholas brought the disastrous news to him that his contract was not going to be renewed, he said goodbye to the county that had become so dear to him. When he thinks back to his time there, his thoughts almost automatically turn to bowling giant Malcolm Marshall who passed away at the age of just 41. Paul-Jan flew with Cardigan Connor to the funeral in Barbados. An impressive event, partly due to the soulful words of Wes Hall and Mark Nicholas.

Holcot Arcadians

After his English period, Paul-Jan played a few more years for Quick. He also played for the Holcot Arcadians, just like Wulf van Alkemade. Celebrities such as BBC anchorman and ex-footballer Gary Lineker, former Rolling Stones bassist Bill Wyman and singer-actor David Essex all play for that occasion team.

The highlight of Paul-Jan’s Flamingo membership, which started in 1983, is undoubtedly the match that the Flamingos played at Lord's against the MCC of which Paul-Jan is of course also a member, on their 75th anniversary. This is the match, mentioned several times in this book, in which Tim de Leede, with his 167 rock-hard runs, shook Lord's to its very foundations.

Paul-Jan likes to spend the months of September and October on Sint Maarten and winters in Switzerland. He is and remains a gentleman, a natty dresser who loves the good life. As a cricketer, he has not been forgotten in England. It is with good reason that Mark Nicholas wrote: “PJ was the best of cricket, all heart and soul. His perspective on the game came from a broad canvas and added maturity to our dressing-room. Sometimes, being the best sort of person matters as much as being the most gifted player "