Hemp lands Aussie coaching role

Bermuda batsman David Hemp has landed a new job — as assistant coach at Australian club side Prahran.

Following Bermuda’s disappointing World T20 qualifying campaign, former county cricketer Hemp told the Sun he was planning to emigrate to Australia.

Hemp made clear his ambition to get back into the professional game after a spell as cricket master at Solihull School, near Birmingham.

And his relocation has paid immediate dividends with him landing a role alongside Peter Di Venuto, brother of former Australia international Michael, at Toorak Park in Melbourne. The club plays in the Victorian Premier League, which is the highest level of club cricket in the state.

“I got a bit of a feel for the club and was made to feel very welcome,’’ said Hemp, 43.

According to reports Down Under, Di Venuto hopes Hemp will be able to skipper the second XI but the Bermuda player is keeping his options open as he explores additional coaching roles.

Hemp played county cricket from 1991 to 2008, which included a spell at Warwickshire and two stints at Glamorgan. The left-hander hit 15,520 runs at 37.04, with 30 centuries and 86 half-centuries. He was selected for an England A tour to India and Bangladesh in 1994-95.

Hemp was the island’s top run-scorer at the World Twenty20 Qualifiers in the UAE, scoring 212 runs at an average of 35.33, as Bermuda finished 14th and failed to make the finals in Bangladesh.