David Hemp
David Hemp (born 8 November 1970) is a former Bermudian international cricketer and coach, renowned for his elegant left-handed batting and right-arm medium-pace bowling.[1] He represented Bermuda in 22 One Day Internationals (ODIs) between 2006 and 2009, captaining the side and amassing 641 runs at an average of 33.74, including one century.[3][4] Hemp's most notable batting achievement came during the 2009 ICC World Cup Qualifier in South Africa, where he scored an unbeaten 102 against Kenya at the age of 38 years and 149 days, ranking him as the eighth oldest player to score an ODI century.[5] Domestically, he enjoyed a prolific career in English county cricket, debuting for Glamorgan in 1991 after strong performances in youth and club cricket, later playing for Free State in South Africa and Warwickshire in England.[6][7] Transitioning to coaching, Hemp served as head coach of the Pakistan women's national cricket team from 2020 to 2022, contributing to their development in international tournaments.[8] In May 2023, he joined the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) as head coach of the High Performance Unit, and in February 2024, he was appointed batting coach for the Bangladesh men's national team on a two-year contract, a position he held until November 2024 when he was replaced amid efforts to address batting inconsistencies.[9][10]Early life
Birth and family background
David Lloyd Hemp was born on 8 November 1970 in Hamilton, Bermuda.[6] He is a Bermudian national, with his birthplace underscoring his strong ties to the island despite much of his early life being spent elsewhere.[6] Hemp stands at a height of 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m).[7] Although born in Bermuda to parents who were living there at the time, he was raised in England, which shaped his initial development away from the island.[11] Hemp has a younger brother, Tim Hemp (born 12 April 1974), who was also born in Hamilton, Bermuda, and pursued a cricket career, including appearances for Glamorgan's second eleven and Wales Minor Counties.[1][12]Education and early influences
Born in Bermuda, David Hemp moved to England at the age of five. He later attended Millfield School in Somerset on a cricket scholarship during his teenage years. This transition was pivotal, as it allowed him to immerse himself in a structured sporting environment that facilitated his qualification for English county cricket through residency. Millfield School, renowned for its exceptional cricket facilities and history of nurturing professional talent, provided Hemp with access to top-tier coaching and competitive opportunities that shaped his early development.[13][6][14] At Millfield, Hemp excelled in cricket, building a prolific record that included representative appearances for Welsh Schools and junior Glamorgan teams. These experiences honed his skills as a left-handed batsman and right-arm medium-pace bowler, exposing him to higher levels of competition beyond his Bermudian roots. The school's emphasis on all-round athletic development also saw Hemp contribute to the football team, broadening his sporting influences while prioritizing cricket as his primary focus.[6][15] This formative period at Millfield laid the groundwork for Hemp's professional trajectory, instilling discipline and technical proficiency that would define his career. Early mentors and the competitive school circuit provided key influences, transitioning him from informal Bermudian play to the rigorous demands of English youth cricket structures.[6][15]Domestic cricket career
First stint with Glamorgan
David Hemp made his first-class debut for Glamorgan in 1991, following a successful youth career with Millfield School, Welsh Schools, and junior Glamorgan sides.[6] As a left-handed batsman, he quickly integrated into the senior team, showcasing elegant strokeplay that drew comparisons to established players.[15] His early appearances helped solidify Glamorgan's batting lineup during a period of transition for the county. Hemp contributed to Glamorgan's success in the 1993 Sunday League, serving as a key squad member in their championship-winning campaign, which marked the county's first major limited-overs title in over a decade.[15] The following year, 1994, proved a breakthrough for him individually, as he accumulated 1,452 runs in first-class cricket, demonstrating consistency and establishing himself as a mainstay in the middle order.[15] In the 1995 season, Hemp achieved a career-best score of 157 runs against Gloucestershire at Abergavenny, part of a remarkable match where Glamorgan posted a total exceeding 600.[16] This innings formed the foundation of a record-breaking 306-run third-wicket partnership with Matthew Maynard, the highest for that wicket at the time for Glamorgan and a testament to their compatibility in the batting lineup.[16] Over his first stint from 1991 to 1996, Hemp played in numerous first-class and List A matches, scoring thousands of runs that underscored his development into a reliable performer for the county before his move to Warwickshire.[15]Career with Warwickshire
David Hemp joined Warwickshire in 1997 after a promising start to his career at Glamorgan, where he had scored a career-high 157 in the previous season, bringing his elegant left-handed batting to strengthen the county's top order.[6][17] He adapted swiftly to the new team dynamics, securing a cap in his debut year and establishing himself as a consistent middle-order presence alongside players like Nick Knight and Neil Smith.[18] Over his five seasons with the Bears until 2001, Hemp contributed to several competitive campaigns, including a run to the NatWest Trophy final. In the 1997 NatWest Trophy, Hemp played a pivotal role in Warwickshire's progress to the final. In the quarter-final against Middlesex at Lord's, he top-scored with 112 runs, forming a crucial 130-run third-wicket partnership that helped set a defendable 286 for 6, securing a 28-run victory and earning him the Player of the Match award.[19] He followed this with an unbeaten 111 in the semi-final against Sussex at Edgbaston, anchoring the innings as Warwickshire posted 342 for 3 to win by 105 runs and again claim Player of the Match honors.[20] Although Warwickshire fell short in the final against Essex, Hemp's early-season exploits in the one-day competition highlighted his growing influence. Later that summer, in the AXA Life League match against Essex at Chelmsford, he remained not out on 70 to support captain Neil Smith's 57, powering Warwickshire to 255 for 5 and a 147-run victory that kept them atop the table.[21][22] Hemp continued to deliver key performances in subsequent years. In the 2000 County Championship match against Middlesex at Lord's, his patient 129 from 160 balls, including 13 fours over nearly four hours, carried Warwickshire to a formidable 416 all out, securing five bonus points and supported by Mike Powell's 92.[23] These contributions underscored his reliability in longer formats, helping Warwickshire remain competitive in domestic cricket during his tenure. During the English off-season, Hemp gained additional experience by playing for Free State in South Africa's domestic competition in 1997/98, where he featured in both first-class and List A matches to further hone his skills.[24][18] This stint abroad complemented his adaptation to Warwickshire's setup, providing exposure to varied conditions before his return to Glamorgan in 2002.[25]Second stint with Glamorgan and captaincy
After a four-year spell at Warwickshire, David Hemp returned to Glamorgan ahead of the 2002 season, resuming his role as a top-order left-handed batsman in all formats.[15] His contributions were instrumental in the team's success that year, including contributing 43 runs in the Norwich Union League final victory against Kent at Canterbury, which secured Glamorgan's first one-day title since 1993.[15][26] In first-class cricket, he formed a record 252-run second-wicket partnership with Matthew Maynard against Northamptonshire, highlighting his elegant strokeplay and reliability.[15] Hemp's form continued into subsequent seasons, with notable performances aiding team progress. In 2004, he shared a crucial partnership with Matthew Elliott in a T20 quarter-final win over Warwickshire and remained unbeaten on 83 against Essex, contributing to Glamorgan's promotion to County Championship Division One.[15] The following year, as the county's leading run-scorer, he produced a career-best 171 against Kent, underscoring his sustained impact despite the team's challenges in maintaining consistency across divisions.[15] On 12 September 2006, Hemp was appointed Glamorgan's captain with immediate effect, succeeding Robert Croft after four years in the role.[27] Under his leadership in the County Championship Division Two, the team finished 8th in 2006 (146.5 points from 16 matches, with 2 wins and 7 losses) and 9th in 2007 (92.5 points, 1 win and 9 losses).[28][29] In 2008, they ended 8th again (136 points, 3 wins and 5 losses), reflecting a mid-table struggle amid rain-affected fixtures and internal transitions.[30] Personally, Hemp marked his captaincy with a first-innings century against Gloucestershire in September 2006, helping avoid a bottom-table finish, and scored 155 against Surrey earlier that season, though it could not prevent their promotion. In his final year, he amassed 763 runs at an average of 34.68 across all competitions, providing steady leadership despite the pressures of the role.[31] Hemp's contract expired at the end of the 2008 season, which was his benefit year, and Glamorgan chose not to renew it as part of a broader club overhaul that included changes in executive and grounds staff.[32] At 37, he expressed a desire to continue playing professionally but ultimately transitioned to a coaching position in Australia, marking the end of his 17-year association with Glamorgan.[33][15]International cricket career
Qualification and debut
David Hemp was born in Hamilton, Bermuda, on 8 November 1970, which granted him eligibility to represent the territory internationally under ICC nationality rules.[6] However, after developing his career in English county cricket, he needed to satisfy the ICC's residency requirement for associate members, prompting him to return to Bermuda in late 2005 to complete a 100-day period on the island.[34] This move aligned with Bermuda's push toward the 2007 World Cup, as Hemp joined training sessions and administrative roles with the Bermuda Cricket Board while fulfilling the residency criteria.[35] At the end of his second stint with Glamorgan in 2006, Hemp transitioned fully to international representation for Bermuda. He made his One Day International (ODI) debut on 11 November 2006 against Kenya at the Mombasa Sports Club Ground, during the ICC Intercontinental Cup, opening the batting in a match that highlighted his return to Bermudian colors.[36] Hemp's early international exposure was limited to this debut and subsequent fixtures leading into major tournaments, establishing him as a key top-order batsman for the side. Hemp's initial Twenty20 International (T20I) appearances occurred in 2008 during the ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier in Belfast, Northern Ireland, where he played two matches: against Kenya on 2 August and Scotland on 3 August.[36] These outings marked Bermuda's entry into the shortest format under his involvement, though the team did not advance far in the competition.2007 Cricket World Cup
Bermuda, making their debut appearance at the ICC Cricket World Cup as an associate member nation, competed in the 2007 tournament hosted across eight venues in the West Indies from 13 March to 28 April. Placed in Group B with formidable opponents including Sri Lanka, India, Bangladesh, England, and South Africa, Bermuda played three group-stage matches, all at Queen's Park Oval in Port of Spain, Trinidad. Despite the excitement of qualifying through the ICC Trophy, the team struggled against superior opposition, losing all encounters and finishing last in the group without advancing to the Super Eight stage.[37][38] David Hemp, Bermuda's most experienced batsman with a background in English county cricket, served as a linchpin in the batting order and was the team's leading run-scorer with 90 runs across the three matches at an average of 45.00. In the opening fixture against Sri Lanka on 15 March, Bermuda collapsed to 78 all out in 24.4 overs after Sri Lanka posted 321 for 6, with Hemp contributing 14 runs off 18 balls before being caught off Lasith Malinga; Sri Lanka secured a 243-run victory. The second match against Bangladesh on 25 March was rain-shortened, with Bermuda managing only 94 for 9 in 21 overs under the Duckworth-Lewis method, Hemp dismissed for a duck off 4 balls by Syed Rasel; Bangladesh chased the adjusted target of 96 for 3 in 23.3 overs to win by 7 wickets.[39][40][41] Hemp's standout performance came in the third match against India on 19 March, where he scored an unbeaten 76 off 105 balls—including 9 fours and 1 six—at a strike rate of 72.38, providing staunch resistance as Bermuda were bowled out for 156 in 43.1 overs chasing India's imposing 413 for 5; India won by 257 runs, the largest margin in World Cup history at the time. This innings marked Hemp's first international fifty and the first half-century by any Bermudan player in World Cup history, a significant milestone for the associate side that underscored Hemp's composure under pressure against world-class bowling.[42][43] Bermuda's World Cup campaign, though winless, represented a historic step for the island nation, exposing them to elite international competition and highlighting areas for development in associate cricket. Hemp's contributions, particularly his resilient knock against India, remain a proud chapter in Bermuda's limited World Cup legacy, inspiring future generations despite the team's overall challenges.[38]Later international matches and retirement
Following the 2007 Cricket World Cup, where Hemp had scored a fifty against India, Bermuda's international schedule included participation in qualification tournaments for subsequent global events. Hemp continued to anchor the batting lineup in One Day Internationals (ODIs), playing a total of 22 ODIs for Bermuda and accumulating 641 runs at an average of 33.73, including one century and four half-centuries.[6][3] A highlight of Hemp's post-World Cup international career came during the 2009 ICC World Cup Qualifier, aimed at securing spots for the 2011 tournament. On April 6, 2009, at Senwes Park in Potchefstroom, South Africa, he produced his highest ODI score of 102 not out against Kenya, facing 152 balls in a valiant effort during Bermuda's 260/3 total, though Kenya chased it down to win by seven wickets with 33 balls remaining.[7] This unbeaten knock, made at the age of 38 years and 149 days, marked him as the eighth-oldest player to score an ODI century.[44] Hemp's other notable ODI performances included three additional fifties, contributing to Bermuda's competitive showings in associate nation fixtures.[3] In first-class internationals, Hemp achieved his career-best score in the 2005-07 ICC Intercontinental Cup. Against the Netherlands from November 21-24, 2006, at LC de Villiers Oval in Pretoria, South Africa, he batted for over six and a half hours to score an unbeaten 247, helping Bermuda declare at 390/6 in their first innings of the drawn match; this total surpassed the previous associate nation record of 220 set by Kenya's Steve Tikolo.[45] Hemp's final ODI appearance came on April 8, 2009, against the Netherlands at Potchefstroom during the same World Cup Qualifier, where he scored 81 off 101 balls in Bermuda's 78-run defeat, closing out his international ODI career on a determined note.[7] In August 2009, Hemp was appointed captain of Bermuda, succeeding Irving Romaine, and led the team in various international fixtures until stepping down in September 2012.[46][11] He continued to represent Bermuda in other international matches, including T20s, until his final appearances in May 2015 against the United States and Canada in Indianapolis, retiring from international cricket thereafter at age 44.[36]Coaching career
Early and club coaching roles
Following his retirement from international cricket in 2009, David Hemp transitioned into coaching, beginning with a role at Solihull School in England. In late 2008, he was appointed as the head of cricket at the school, where he focused on developing young players through structured programs and skill-building sessions.[47] This position allowed Hemp to leverage his extensive playing experience to mentor emerging talent, emphasizing technical proficiency and match preparation in a school environment.[6] Hemp held the Solihull role for several years, obtaining his ECB Level 4 coaching qualification in 2012 during this period, which enhanced his ability to implement high-performance strategies for junior athletes.[48] His work there laid the foundation for his coaching philosophy, centered on fostering discipline and tactical awareness among young cricketers.[49] In 2014, Hemp relocated to Australia and took up the position of assistant coach at the Prahran Cricket Club in Melbourne, working under head coach Peter Di Venuto. At Prahran, a prominent club in Victorian Premier Cricket, he contributed to team preparation and player development, drawing on his first-class expertise to guide club-level players in batting techniques and game strategy.[50] This role marked his entry into club coaching in a competitive domestic scene, where he helped nurture local talent through hands-on training and performance analysis.Pakistan women's national team
David Hemp was appointed head coach of the Pakistan women's national cricket team on 1 October 2020, succeeding Iqbal Imam following a rigorous recruitment process by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). Based in Australia at the time, Hemp brought extensive experience from coaching roles with the Melbourne Stars and Victoria in the Women's Big Bash League, as well as prior work in women's cricket development. His appointment aimed to stabilize the team amid frequent coaching changes and focus on long-term growth, including qualification for major tournaments like the 2022 ICC Women's Cricket World Cup.[51][52] Under Hemp's guidance, the team achieved notable successes in bilateral series and regional events, emphasizing technical skills, fitness, and a robust domestic pathway to build depth. In June 2022, Pakistan secured a 2-1 ODI series victory over Sri Lanka—their first home ODI series win against the side—highlighted by dominant performances in the first two matches, including an eight-wicket triumph in the opener and a 73-run win in the second, driven by centuries from Sidra Amin. They also completed a 3-0 T20I whitewash in the same tour, showcasing improved adaptability in shorter formats. At the 2022 Women's Asia Cup T20, Pakistan topped the group stage with five wins in six matches, including a 13-run upset over India, before falling short in the semi-final by one run to Sri Lanka. However, results were mixed in global events; the team managed only one victory (by 13 runs against West Indies) in the 2022 ICC Women's ODI World Cup, finishing last with six defeats, and exited the Commonwealth Games early without a win after losses to Barbados, India, and Australia. Hemp's strategies centered on strengthening domestic competitions, such as the National Women's T20 Cup, to foster talent and consistency, stating that a proper domestic system would lead to improved international fortunes.[53][54][55] Hemp's tenure significantly impacted women's cricket in Pakistan by facilitating the return of international matches to the country post-2009 security concerns, including home series against Sri Lanka and West Indies, which boosted player exposure and fan engagement. His emphasis on professional development helped elevate individual performances, with players like Sidra Amin emerging as key contributors through refined batting techniques. In August 2022, Hemp opted not to extend his two-year contract, which concluded in October 2022, allowing him to pursue other opportunities while leaving a foundation for ongoing PCB initiatives in women's cricket.[24][56]Bangladesh men's national team and recent roles
In February 2024, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) appointed David Hemp as the batting coach for the men's national cricket team on a two-year contract, transitioning him from his prior role as head coach of the BCB's High Performance unit.[57][58] Hemp commenced his duties with the T20I and ODI series against Sri Lanka in March 2024, where he focused on enhancing the batters' decision-making skills and encouraging them to convert promising starts into substantial innings.[59][60] During his tenure, he contributed to sessions emphasizing technical refinements and mental resilience, though the team's batting performances drew criticism amid inconsistent results in subsequent series.[61] In November 2024, Hemp was excluded from the coaching staff for Bangladesh's tour of West Indies, with Mohammad Salahuddin appointed to handle batting duties as senior assistant coach.[10][62] This marked the end of his direct involvement with the national team, after which he was anticipated to resume his High Performance head coach responsibilities within the BCB; Salahuddin continued in the batting role until November 2025.[63][64] As of November 2025, Hemp's two-year High Performance contract, which began in May 2023, had concluded in June 2025, and no new international or domestic coaching appointments have been publicly confirmed.[65]Career statistics
First-class cricket
David Hemp played 271 first-class matches between 1991 and 2010, scoring a total of 15,520 runs at an average of 37.04, with 30 centuries and 86 half-centuries to his name. His highest score was an unbeaten 247 for Free State against North West in the 1999/2000 SuperSport Series, which stood as the highest individual score in the competition's history at the time.[18][66] The majority of Hemp's first-class career was spent with Glamorgan, where he played 174 matches from 1991 to 1996 and again from 2001 to 2008, accumulating 9,856 runs. He moved to Warwickshire for the 1997 to 2000 seasons, contributing to their County Championship title win in 1997, before a brief stint with Free State in South Africa from 1998 to 2001, where he adapted successfully to the conditions and produced several standout performances. During his time with Glamorgan, Hemp set a club record with a 251-run second-wicket partnership.[15][6][66]List A cricket
David Hemp accumulated 6,844 runs in 309 List A matches at an average of 27.93, with a highest score of 170 not out; he scored 8 centuries and 34 half-centuries in the process.[6][18][67]| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Matches | 309 |
| Innings | 278 |
| Runs | 6,844 |
| Batting Average | 27.93 |
| Highest Score | 170* |
| Centuries | 8 |
| Fifties | 34 |