Former Dutch men’s coach David Trist (22 September 1947 – 29 May 2025) passes away

David Trist was a pace bowler who played for Canterbury in New Zealand in the 1970s. He came to the Netherlands where he played for Quick Nijmegen for a long time. Having been coach of the Colts team (currently called ‘U19’) in the early eighties, he became national men’s coach in the early nineties. In Kenya in 1994 the men’s team qualified for the 1996 World Cup in India and Pakistan.

Although all matches were lost during that World Cup, the Dutch team commanded respect for their style of play. Against England, for example, the Netherlands had good chances of winning for a long time.

After his career in the Netherlands, Trist became national coach of his native New Zealand in 1999, which won its first international silverware in 2000 at the ICC Knock Out Trophy (now called the Champions Trophy).

David Trist is known and praised as a coach, mentor and gentleman. He had the gift of giving players the confidence that they could play at a high level if they worked hard and believed in their own abilities. Anyone who had the privilege of having him as a coach, having a conversation with him or having a net session with him will remember his insight, enthusiasm and unconditional belief in the team he managed. His legacy is not just one of trophies and victories, but of the players he helped to shape and develop.

Steven Lubbers, captain of the Dutch men's team at the time, about David Trist: "When we had had our second tour to New Zealand in 1988 and I took over the captaincy of the Dutch team, we had the big challenge of the ICC tournament in 1990 (at the time the World Cup Qualifier, ed.). We reached the final again, in which we - just like in 1986 - had to acknowledge our superior in Zimbabwe." 

"We then felt that we needed something extra to reach the world top and David Trist was brought in as coach. In addition to the appointment of John Wories as manager, that appointment in the early nineties ensured extra quality and results and eventually led to our first (1996) World Cup qualification, enforced in Nairobi in 1994." 

“I knew David from his coaching at Quick 1888 and Kon. UD and felt that we could use this ‘people’s coach’, which he proved time and again in those years. David knew the human side of players like no other and although extremely friendly, he knew how to give many players a huge boost in their game with ‘good conversations’. On tour we always shared a room and the numerous evaluation/ tactics conversations we had, often produced the desired result. Because he made individual players function better, we grew enormously as a team!”

“With his passing, we have lost a great supporter of our national cricket top, whom we are extremely grateful for his contribution to reaching the world top.”

Photo Dubai: David Trist far right (photo credit: Robert van Oosterom).