Cantrell's career began playing Sheffield Shield cricket in Australia, playeing 34 first class matches for Queensland. Cantrell played five One Day Internationals for The Netherlands during the 1996 Cricket World Cup. He has scored 160 runs in his five ODIs with a decent average of 32. He was coach of the Netherlands for the 2007 World Cup but stood down as head coach after the tournament. Cantrell is best remembered as a substitute fielder who took two brilliant catches during the Australia v England Test Match at the Gabba during the 1990-91 Ashes series.