Monday, March 05, 2007

Bermuda's Hemp eyes England upset

David Hemp
Hemp has scored 348 one-day runs for Bermuda
Glamorgan captain David Hemp lines up for Bermuda against England in a World Cup warm-up in St Vincent on Monday.The Live Scores of the match will be available here.

Hemp toured India and Bangladesh with England A in 1994-95, alongside Michael Vaughan and Paul Nixon, and is keen to put one over his old team-mates.

"If we win the toss we will want to get the target up to 200 and show we can compete at this level," said Hemp, 36.

"I'm at an age where a lot of players are winding down but this has given me a bit more incentive to keep going."

Despite being on the periphery of the full England team in the mid-to-late '90s, the call never materialised.

"You hear different things and, after getting picked on that initial trip, maybe on a couple of occasions my name might have been mentioned," said Hemp, who has also represented Warwickshire.

It was only once Bermuda qualified I realised I could play
David Hemp

"But personally I never felt I was consistent enough to get that opportunity. "It would have been nice to get a full cap but I am grateful for my time in the game and come the end of my career it has taken a bit of a twist."

Hemp was born in Bermuda before moving to Swansea in the mid-1970s, and it was down to former Warwickshire team-mate Dougie Brown that the opportunity to play in the World Cup came about.

"It was only once Bermuda qualified I realised I could play," said Hemp.

"Because I had played for England A I didn't think I was eligible but initial discussions took place in August 2005.

"Dougie Brown had been in Ireland playing a game against Bermuda and he came back and asked me why I wasn't playing."

Hemp has been playing non-stop for the Bermudian team since mid-October, clocking up 14 ODIs.

"I feel a part of what has gone on with Bermuda despite not living on the island since I was five," said Hemp.

"You have to be realistic and at the end of the day we want to be competitive in this tournament.

"When I look back to when I first played against Bangladesh in 1994 they were in a similar position to the one Bermuda are in now, trying to get on to the world one-day international stage."

Because of that Hemp is keen to commit beyond their World Cup bow, and has the 2009 qualifying in mind, if the body is willing.

Bermuda are in a group with India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.

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