David Hemp appointed Bermuda vice-captain

David Hemp has been named Bermuda's vice-captain for the ICC World Cup qualifiers in South Africa in April. The 38-year-old Hemp replaces youngster Rodney Trott, coach Gus Logie has confirmed.

"There was a recommendation that Hemp be made vice-captain for World Cup qualifiers and our decision was based on his experience and we feel this was a good time to relieve Rodney of added pressure," Logie told the Royal Gazette. Hemp had served as deputy to Irving Romaine on the tour of Kenya in 2007.

"Naturally I am very pleased to have been given the role of vice-captain and I am certainly looking forward to the additional responsibility that it entails at this very important time for the national squad," he said. "We have a difficult few months coming up with some tough competition. But we as a squad - both management and players - have a great opportunity in the days that lie ahead to make history like the previous qualifying squad did in 2005 by reaching the next World Cup."

Hemp was released by county side Glamorgan last season, and he is currently engaged in coaching children in England. Born in Bermuda, and having played for Warwickshire and Glamorgan, Hemp became part of the national side after they qualified for the 2007 World Cup in the West Indies.

"It is always good to have someone with Hemp's experience in the team. It's going to be a very difficult tournament and we are going to need all the experience we can get," Logie said. "It's going to be a high-pressure tournament, and at the end of the day these are the people we have identified who can handle this sort of pressure. It was a decision that the selectors made, basically."

Bermuda leave for the West Indies on January 29 to play four warm-up games. Hemp will join the team during the later stages of the tour.

Bermuda are also hoping allrounder Janeiro Tucker, one of the 18 players contracted by the board, recovers soon from the knee surgery he underwent late last year. "Janeiro has been put on a special programme with our physio [Craig Brown] and is doing special work at the gym and at the moment," Logie said. "We are trying our best to work with Janeiro to try and get him as fit as possible. And he has responded very well and has put in a lot of hard work in the nets and gym as well."

Batsman Oronde Bascome, son of assistant coach Herbie Bascome, won't be part of Bermuda's campaign, with the board having terminated his contract, stating he breached its terms. Logie also revealed that fast bowler George O'Brien was reprimanded for playing in a First Division football match over the weekend. Two of Bermuda's youngsters, Malachi Jones and OJ Pitcher, have already pulled out of the World Cup qualifiers because of school commitments.

Meanwhile, Bermuda are yet to decide on an offer from Colin Croft, the former West Indies fast bowler, to be the team's bowling coach.