In his own words, Dirk Nannes, is on a pretty “freaky” journey. A former world-class skier, who has represented the Netherlands in cricket, Nannes has made his international debut for his native Australia at the age of 33.

“I guess coming from not having much of a cricket background to coming out here, a pretty massive day for me. To come out and make a debut is good fun,” Nannes said after his part in Australia’s 189-run victory over Scotland in a one-day match on Friday.

The son of Dutch migrants, Nannes played for Holland at this year’s World Twenty20 after failing to win selection on Australia’s squad despite strong performances in domestic competition.

Against the Scots, Nannes was the last man in and out when he was bowled by Gordon Goudie for one on the last ball of Australia’s innings in Edinburgh, where the tourist scored a massive 345.

The wicket gave Goudie a haul of 5–73 off 10 overs, which had no bearing on the result as Scotland were bowled out for 156 with 10.3 overs remaining.

Left-arm quick Nannes chimed in with a wicket when he responded to being hit for six by Scotland opener Fraser Watts (24) with a ball that up-rooted Watts’ leg stump on the very next delivery.

“He shouldn’t have hit me for six, should he?” Nannes grinned after the match, which he hoped would stand him in good stead when Australia take on England in the first of two Twenty20 matches in Manchester on Sunday.

“I think I’ll be better for the run.

“I didn’t bowl fantastically but the figures say I did ok. Hopefully I’ll be able to bowl in a little less wind.”

He may not have liked the blustery conditions, but the cold didn’t bother him.

Nannes contested the moguls and dual moguls in World Cup events in 1999–97 and recently taught his young son to ski.

“I put a cheeky little run in here and there,” Nannes admitted when asked if his cricket career had forced him to give up winter sports.

“I took him off jumps. Maybe not me. Keep that on the down-low,” he added, realising his cricket bosses with Australia, Victoria and, aptly, the Delhi Daredevils might not be too pleased.

“It’s good fun. I’m fortunate I guess in that it’s probably safer for me to be on skis than to walk on snow so I don’t see it as a real risk.

“My dream holiday is to go skiing in Alaska with a bunch of mates going heli-skiing.

“I’ll do that at some stage of my life, definitely well after I’ve finished cricket. I’m scared about it.”

Nannes will face his Victorian Bushrangers team-mates — including batsman David Hussey, who scored a century against the Scots — when he represents his IPL franchise in the Champions League in October.

The two teams meet in the first game of the new tournament.

As far as his long-term career goes, Nannes’ goal is simple.

“I just want to try and stay on the park as long as I can,” he said.

“I’ve had a few years now where I’ve been injury free and I’ve gone in leaps and bounds so if I can just keep my body well, hopefully I’ll be able to play a lot more games for Australia and hopefully other forms of the game as well.

“It has been a pretty good ride and I’m having a good time doing it.”