'Bermuda need to perform consistently well to qualify'

FRIDAY, JULY 15: Skipper David Hemp is confident Bermuda can book their ticket to ICC World Twenty20 2012 global qualifiers in Florida next week.

But as confident as the former English County player may be, even he isn’t taking anything for granted, especially in the wake of Bermuda’s World Cricket League Division Two Tournament meltdown in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) earlier this year.

Confident

Hemp said: “I am confident that we can advance in the competition. But in order to do this we need to perform consistently well throughout the whole trip.”

These days, consistency is not a word often associated with Bermuda, whose most humiliating defeats have arrived in the Twenty20 format, such as the thumping nine-wicket losses to Jamaica and Guyana at the defunct Sanford 20/20 Tournaments in Antigua.

Hemp stressed: “Twenty20 cricket is a tough game as invariably one bad over with bat or ball can cost a team the game.”

Due to the unavailability of several key players, such as spin king Delyone Borden, the selectors were forced to make sweeping changes to the squad from that which competed in UAE earlier this year.

Still, Hemp has every ounce of confidence in those who have stepped in to plug the gaps.

“The composition of the squad that has been selected is good as it covers all possible options allowing for various player and team combinations.

“I think that they all can rise to the challenge. If that were not the case then the selectors would not have shown the faith they have in them.

“It is naturally disappointing that there are several members of the squad that are unavailable for selection on the forthcoming trip.

“But that is one of the reasons you try and develop as many players as possible.”

One player in particular that Hemp is delighted to see return to the fold is fellow 2007 World Cup veteran, Dean Minors.

The 41-year-old wicketkeeper has agreed to come out of retirement to replace Chris Foggo and Jason Anderson, who are both unavailable for the tour.

“It is great that Dean has made himself available for the trip.

“Not only is he still performing well locally, but also he brings a wealth of experience to the squad, which is vitally important.”

Minors was invited to try out for the team after smashing a typically robust century for St George’s against Willow Cuts at Somerset Cricket Club.

The ICC’s latest decision to reduce the number of non-Test playing countries competing in the World Twenty20 2012 in Sri Lanka from four to two has ruffled many feathers at the Associate/Affiliate levels.

Precious energy

But rather than waste precious energy on matters beyond their control, Hemp has urged his teammates to remain focused on the task at hand, next week’s regional qualifying commitment in Florida.

“From our perspective it is disappointing.

“But it is a decision that has been made by the ICC and we have to get on with the task ahead.

“The most important thing for us is to focus on making sure that we qualify for Dubai next year - that’s all we can control.”