The Sensational Six: Meet the Dublin Guardians' ETPL Draft Picks
The inaugural ETPL Draft was never simply about adding local European talent to a list of pre-signed players. It was a strategic and well-planned exercise by the six ETPL franchises to first identify players who could complement an already established overseas core, while remaining true to each franchise's philosophy, and then hope to secure the services of as many target players as possible.
For the Dublin Guardians, the shared philosophy of owner, Rahul Dravid and captain and mentor, R Ashwin came to the fore. In Ashwin’s own words – “"every single player that you pick must be a playable resource." Ashwin, a veteran of over 280 international matches, was in charge of the draft picks and his vision was evident in the six draft picks the Guardians made, as they picked up four Irish, one Dutch and one Scottish player to join a group that brings together local knowledge, flexibility and proven match-winning ability.
Here are the big strengths of the six players selected by the Dublin Guardians at the ETPL 2026 Player Draft:
BENJAMIN CALITZ (Ireland)
The Guardians opened their draft process by selecting 24-year-old wicketkeeper-batter Benjamin Calitz, one of Ireland's brightest young prospects. A product of Ireland's strong age-group pipeline, Calitz was born in Canada and has also represented his country of birth in age-group cricket, having played for the Canadian team at the 2020 ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup. He is an aggressive left-handed batter, capable of accelerating against both spin and pace. He has steadily earned a reputation for his safe glovework and composed approach at the crease. Still in the early stages of his senior career, the youngster has impressed coaches with his maturity, temperament and willingness to take responsibility under pressure. The ETPL now provides Calitz with the ideal platform to continue his development alongside some of the game's biggest names, making him an exciting long-term investment for the Dublin franchise. He also bowls the occasional right-arm off-spin and is pipped to become a long-term batter-wicket-keeper prospect for the Irish National side.
GEORGE DOCKRELL (Ireland)
Few Irish cricketers have reinvented themselves in white-ball cricket quite like the 33-year-old George Dockrell. Beginning as a left-arm spinner, Dockrell has evolved into a genuine middle-order all-rounder capable of changing matches with both bat and ball. He was only 17 when he made his Ireland debut in April 2010 against the West Indies. His finest T20I innings was played in 2022, when he produced a career-best 58 off 37 balls against Afghanistan in Belfast, underlining the aggressive batting qualities that have become a hallmark of his white-ball game. Dockrell was also one of the first Irish cricketers to make a name in county cricket, having signed with Somerset early in his career. He is a strong boundary hitter and has a T20 strike rate that has made him one of Ireland's most effective finishers. Equally adept at controlling the middle overs with his accurate left-arm spin, Dockrell's adaptability perfectly reflects the type of "playable resource" Ashwin wanted in his squad.
MATTHEW HOLLARD (Ireland)
Dublin's third-round selection was right-arm Irish seamer Matthew Hollard. The 27-year-old couldn’t have asked for a better international debut – receiving his cap in the first T20I against India in Stormont in June 2026 – a match that saw him dismiss Ishan Kishan, Shreyas Iyer and Washington Sundar, to finish with match-winning figures of 3/28 and the Player of the Match award. He followed that up with another 3-wicket spell in the second T20I that Ireland won by 1 run to wrap up a historic series win against the reigning T20 World champions. It wasn’t a surprise at all to see the Guardians go for Hollard. A right-arm medium-fast bowler who has quickly emerged as one of Ireland's exciting pace prospects after earned his international cap thanks to consistent performances in domestic cricket. Known for generating steep bounce and bowling disciplined lengths, he has shown the ability to keep batters under pressure with his accuracy and work ethic. Surrounded by experienced campaigners in the Guardians dressing room, the ETPL offers Hollard another platform to accelerate his development at the highest level.
Picking up another good seam bowling option was a priority for the Guardians, and Craig Young fitted the bill perfectly. A skilful swing bowler renowned for exploiting helpful conditions, Young has consistently been one of Ireland's most dependable white-ball performers. One of his standout T20 performances came during the 2024 Netherlands Tri-Series, where he returned figures of 3/31 against Scotland, underlining his ability to strike with the new ball while maintaining relentless discipline. Young represented Ireland at the 2010 ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup, and finished as the team's leading wicket-taker with nine wickets. He also spent three seasons with Sussex before returning to Ireland after injuries curtailed his county career. He made his first-class debut for Ireland in 2013 and earned a central contract with Cricket Ireland in 2014. Comfortable bowling at both ends of an innings, Young's skill set is particularly well suited to European conditions and adds another layer of control to Dublin's pace attack.
NOAH CROES (The Netherlands)
The Guardians turned to Dutch wicketkeeper and top order batter Noah Croes as their fifth selection, adding another versatile player to their squad. Born in the Netherlands and raised in Australia, Croes has a Dutch father and an Australian mother and grew up bilingual. The 27-year-old announced himself on the global stage during the 2025 ICC Men's T20 World Cup Europe Qualifier, scoring 52 off 35 balls against Scotland, which showcased his fearless stroke play and ability to take on both pace and spin. A right-handed batter comfortable batting in the top and middle orders, Croes is known for rotating the strike before accelerating late in the innings. A reliable batter who also provides wicketkeeping cover, Croes offers Dublin another dynamic option without compromising the balance of the side. Having made his international debut (ODIs) in 2023, Croes is widely regarded as one of Dutch cricket's brightest prospects.
The Guardians rounded off their draft selections by securing the services of 35-year-old Scotland international, Chris Greaves, who was born in South Africa and moved to Scotland in 2011 to pursue cricket. Greaves is a quality spin-bowling all-rounder and enjoyed a dream ICC Men's T20 World Cup debut in 2021, producing one of the tournament's most memorable performances with 45 runs in 28 balls and match-winning figures of 2/19 in a famous upset win for Scotland against Bangladesh. A clever leg-spinner who uses flight and variation to fox batters, Greaves is also more than handy finisher with the bat, capable of aggressive stroke play. And he is a a gun fielder. Needless to say, Greaves has repeatedly demonstrated an ability to influence matches in multiple ways. It is precisely that versatility that made him an ideal addition to the balanced squad the Guardians were aiming to assemble.
The six selections made by the Guardians underline the philosophy that shaped their draft from the very beginning. Ashwin and co. focused on draft picks who are adaptable cricketers, capable of performing not only clearly defined roles, but are also players who offer the flexibility to adjust to different match situations and requirements. The Guardians head into the inaugural ETPL season with a squad built not just on talent, but on balance, versatility and a shared cricketing vision.