Calls for David Hemp to be replaced by Stephen Outerbridge as Bermuda’s national cricket captain gathered further momentum yesterday after former star bowler Clarence Parfitt endorsed the latter for the leadership role.In recent months a growing number of influential cricket personalities have expressed a desire to see the Bailey’s Bay batsman replace UK-based skipper Hemp, including past greats Wendell and Clay Smith and former Bermuda Cricket Board (BCB) executives Allen Richardson and George (Recman) Holdipp.Former English County player Hemp succeeded Irving Romaine as Bermuda’s captain in August 2009 but has enjoyed very little success during his watch.With the national team undergoing a rebuilding phase, Parfitt believes the time is right to install a new captain, especially given Hemp’s age (41) compared to that of Outerbridge who at age 29 is in his prime.“I’m not saying that Hemp should not be playing ... but personally I think he has done his job as far as the captaincy of Bermuda is concerned,” he said. “Hemp has been captain for three years and in this time he should have been grooming somebody because he’s now 41 and no longer playing county cricket.“I would think we should have been looking to build a new captain and Stephen seems to be the one everyone has always been talking about and should now be the one ready to take over. Why not let him take over ... he seems to be doing a good job.”Earlier this year Hemp’s captaincy came under intense scrutiny from some of his team-mates who object to having to prepare for competition in the absence of their captain who resides in the UK. Disgruntled team members also expressed a desire to be led by someone they can relate to on a more personal level.Parfitt, who claimed a record 115 wickets during his illustrious Cup Match career for St George’s, agrees.“You need to have your captain very close to the coach to help with the boys that are there,” he said. “And if the captain has the respect of the players that helps a lot.“You don’t have any discrepancies like players that don’t want to play and maybe the boys will come back and play for him (Outerbridge) because we seem to have a lot of guys not playing and giving up and things like that.”Outerbridge underlined his pedigree as a captain after leading Bay to Belco Cup, Lindo’s Twenty20 and the Premier 50 over Championship this past season. Yesterday the star batsman capped a memorable season by being chosen as the Logic Premier Division Player of the Year. When asked afterwards about the Bermuda captaincy, Outerbridge, who has been Hemp’s vice captain for the last few years, admits it is something he is interested in.“My thing is every player would like to captain their country and I’m pretty much the same,” said Outerbridge. “But it’s really not up to me, it’s up to the powers that be.“Regardless, if I’m made (captain) or I’m not, I’m still going to support Bermuda cricket. I know there’s a major tournament coming up in April so there is still some time. I’m vice captain as it is but at the end of the day whoever they choose, or if they do choose to replace Hemp, then I’ll support that person regardless.”The makeup of the next national squad is eagerly anticipated with several players establishing themselves this season, including Outerbridge’s Cup Match team-mates Greg Maybury, Tre Manders, Terryn Fray and Kamau Leverock, players who have or are furthering their cricketing education in England.“The cricket board has invested a lot of funds in the youth and you are starting to see it in our major event, Cup Match, where they are supposed to be the best 22 players and with those 22 you saw about 18 who are under 27 and that speaks volumes,” said Outerbridge.“You have guys in England ... Terryn, Kamau, Greg Maybury, Stefan Kelly. I’ve been to England, Jekon (Edness) has been to England and then other players like the ‘Picnics’ (Rodney Trott), OJs (Pitcher) have been involved in World Cups and travelled throughout the world, so they are the nucleus of players and they are experienced. It’s just down to what the country, the board and the players want to do and how far they want to take our cricket.”He added: “Obviously it is an exciting time and we just need to take our chances, whatever they may be. This next tournament is our last chance to qualify for a 50 overs World Cup and it would be great to get back there. If not we just have to look forward to whatever the ICC decide they want to do with Associate cricket.”