January 30, 2013 at 5:54 p.m.
Hemp keen to win a spot on national cricket team
Hemp will be back on the island on October 14 to complete the 100 days work necessary for him to qualify to play for Bermuda.
The 35-year-old has had a mixed season with the bat for Glamorgan, excelling in the 20-20 format, but struggling to make big scores in an under performing team in the Pro40 league and four-day County Championship.
And he said he was keen to get back in the nets and work on his game to win a place in the Bermuda touring party, which travels to Africa on November 6.
"I'll be back in Bermuda and in contention. Hopefully I'll be involved in the practice sessions before the squad is selected and I'll have a chance to be part of the tour.
"All I can do is complete my 100 days qualification and try to get selected."
Hemp said he hoped his main contribution would be on the field. But he also believes his presence can help the other players in the squad.
"Hopefully, I can help off the field in terms of my knowledge of the game and set the right kind of example in being professional in my preparation and in terms of how I look after myself.
"I'm not saying we should all be in bed by 8pm but you have to give yourself the best opportunity to play well the next day, and if that means watching what you drink, watching what you eat - then you've got to do that."
He said he felt he could help the team become more professional in their approach.
But ultimately, he added, that improvement would come from exposure to better players, different wickets and different match situations.
"Particularly with the size of the boundaries and the wickets in Bermuda it's important to travel and to be exposed to different conditions.
He said Bermuda was in a similar situation to his Glamorgan squad - a side that was developing and learning as much through losing as it was through winning.
"You always want to win and you are obviously judged on your results but you learn from playing against better players.
"At Glamorgan we have a young, developing squad. We've had a tough season but our younger players have put in some good performances and gained a lot of experience and adjusted to first class cricket. We'll be in a stronger position next year because of that."
And he echoed Gus Logie's sentiments that victories and defeats should be seen as part of the learning process.
"My own personal view is that there is no point playing a side that you are going to hammer. It's essential to get out of your comfort zone and play teams that are going to challenge you.
"You see how those players prepare and you want to test yourself against them. Nobody likes facing Shoaib Akhtar (sp) or Shane Warne but it's a test and a challenge and something you've got to rise to.
"If you can say, well Warne might have got me out, but I learned from it and improved then it's better than hitting an unknown leg-spinner round the park and not really gaining anything from it."
He said the important thing was to have the strength of character to accept defeat as part of the process.
Hemp who has been following Bermuda's progress from the U.K., added: "They did really well in Ireland then they had an up and down period for a while and recently they've done really well to come back and win the Americas Cup.
"You can see they are not just relying on one or two players. There are lots of people contributing. It's a strong squad."
Hemp will captain Glamorgan in a relegation decider on Sunday when the Welsh side travel to Old Trafford to face Lancashire in a limited overs match. It's the final game in the British Pro40 First Division and the loser will be relegated.
Glamorgan's final match in the four-day format is against Gloucestershire, staring next Wednesday. They need the points to avoid finishing as the country's bottom club.
After that Hemp will travel to Guernsey for a six-day tour with his team and then take a short break before coming to Bermuda.[[In-content Ad]]
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