January 30, 2013 at 5:54 p.m.
Hemp targets big score
But the middle order batsman is hoping he can hit form in time for them to cause a few surprises against their more experienced opponents in the coming days.
Hemp, who has had a run of mediocre scores in his last few games for Bermuda, said he felt he was in good form, hitting the middle of the bat and was just waiting for the breaks to go his way.
Taking a break from a keenly contested game of dominoes with all-rounder Saleem Mukuddem and physio Craig Brown, he told the Bermuda Sun: "I feel in good touch. I'm not scratching around, so hopefully there is a big score just around the corner.
"I'm winning at dominoes, so hopefully that is a good sign for tomorrow."
Hemp, who has had a couple of 30s and 40s so far this year, but has yet to nail a match-winning score, said he was not concerned about the extra pressure on him as the island's senior professional.
"At the end of the day, my job as a batsman is to score runs. I want to contribute but it only takes one good ball to get you out and I've had a few recently.
"I'm not putting myself under any extra pressure. I know if I get in, I'll get a score. My view is there's eleven players on the team and we all have to take collective responsibility for putting some runs on the board.
"There is more expectation on the more experienced players, I accept that, but at the same time that is not something the less experienced players can use as a cop out. It has to be a collective effort."
Hemp said he had an off-the-field role to play in developing younger, less experienced players and helping them to adopt a professional mindset.
"Monday's gone. We have to forget about that result. The most important thing is the next game," he said of today's clash with Ireland, who were beaten yesterday on the final ball in their opening fixture against Scotland.
"We've seen the Irish walking around the hotel today. They are pretty down. It's bad enough to lose, but getting beaten on the last ball adds insult to injury. We have to go and try and rub it in.
"We've got nothing to lose. Nobody is expecting us to win, so hopefully we'll go out and play with a bit more confidence and you never know."
Hemp said he felt the Bermuda players were in decent form with the bat, hitting the ball well in the nets and showing as much talent as their rivals.
"The talent is there, it's just a case of being a bit more streetwise and playing each ball on its merits. That will come with experience at this level.
"The sides we are up against have had that experience," he added pointing to Ireland and Scotland's experience of playing regularly against top English county sides in the C&G Trophy, Holland's experience at the same level and Kenya's long involvement in ODIs
Hemp has played against the likes of Ireland's Northants' wicketkeeper Niall O'Brien and Middlesex's 20-year-old batsman Eion Morgan, who he says has a growing reputation, in the English county leagues.
And he said the key for Bermuda at this stage was to continue to get exposure and competition at this level.
"Results matter but we are trying to develop a side, to grow as a team and to get people to grow as players."[[In-content Ad]]
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