Hemp was not the problem with cricket

WEDNESDAY, OCT. 3: David Hemp announced that he was stepping down as Bermuda captain this week. The pressure for the calls to replace him probably took its toll on him.

There were plenty of calls from the public and people in the cricket community for him to be replaced.

But to be honest, him stepping down is not a good thing at this time.

What’s mainly wrong with the Bermuda cricket team doesn’t have to deal with the captain — the issue is the players and we have to deal with the root of the problem.

Our players make too many excuses for their own failures. I have seen it throughout my cricket career with the national team.

If the players don’t perform at the highest level, is that the captain’s fault?

Until we can accept responsibilities for our own shortcomings without looking to place the blame elsewhere, we won’t succeed as a cricketing nation.

It’s great that Hemp is willing to stay on and play as part of the team, which just shows you his class.

Bermuda has never had a cricketer of his magnitude before. Not only has he played County cricket for 15 years but he has also played for England A.

No one can compare to his level of professionalism — no one even comes close to it.

He brought professionalism to our team. I know helped me elevate my game by watching how he approached the game. I am a better player today because of Hemp.

He would be in the nets hitting hundreds and thousands of balls. We used to laugh at how long he would spend in the nets.

But I started copying him and doing it myself, and I then became more successful.

I then understood what professionalism he was trying to bring to all of us.

He set the example — and now, after he’s stepped down, he still wants to stay around and help impart his knowledge to the youngsters.

I’ve played under many, many captains in my years, whether it be for club, county, Cup match or the national team, and he brings something none of the rest could.

I have to admit that I haven’t always seen eye-to-eye with the captain, but I’ve said my piece, put on the jersey and did what was required of me.

And likewise, a batsman needs to get runs and a bowler needs to take wickets. Too many of our players are looking for an excuse.

Until we change that culture, it doesn’t matter who the captain is.

You are always going to have players who say they don’t like this captain or that captain so ‘I won’t show up for training’ or ‘I can’t perform.’

Are all the good players who smoke marijuana going to stop smoking marijuana because Hemp isn’t captain?

Are all the guys who have the potential going to commit the time to the sport because Hemp isn’t captain any more?

When the new captain comes in, he’ll need the respect of the players. As a rookie national team skipper, he is going to make mistakes, and if the first thing we do is jump down his throat and criticise him, then we’re right back where we started.

Burnt out

I, unfortunately, am burnt out from this season. I’ve written in to the Bermuda Cricket Board to let them know I need a break.

This has been a long season between the tournament earlier this season and taking over coaching of Warwick.

T20

There is going to be a new champ now that England is out. The sub-continent teams are all doing well. Australia in particular, thanks to Watson. In Twenty/20 it’s easier to have one player carry a team.

Spin has really taken over and the wickets are getting slower and slower.

Sri Lanka have to be the favourites at this point, but there are four good teams in the semi-finals as they still have to get past Pakistan and West Indies haven’t reached top form as they play Australia.