Meet David Hemp, Glamorgan?s player of the year, scorer of more than 12,000 first-class runs ? including 22 centuries ? and the latest player to benefit from Gus Logie?s open door policy.

Hemp, who turns 35 on Tuesday, is a born Bermudian, is eligible for the World Cup and is flying in tomorrow for six weeks of involvement in the national programme.

With Bermuda struggling at the top of the order in Namibia, as they have done for most of the summer, Hemp, a former England ?A? international, could provide a welcome source of runs in the lead-up to the World Cup, in the competition itself, and beyond.

The national side have been turned around by Gus Logie this summer, qualifying for the World Cup with strong performances in Ireland in the ICC Trophy and then winning the Americas section of the Intercontinental Cup.

With $11 million invested in the national side by Government and ten weeks of touring cricket to be played next year, Bermuda are attempting to elevate the sport to the next level ? and their ambitions could be greatly boosted by the involvement of Hemp, who has averaged nearly 40 in his 15 years in the English county game.

Bermuda Cricket Board are keen for the highly-qualified Hemp to come in not just as a bat for hire for West Indies 2007 but as a ?valuable resource both on and off the field over the next six years?.

Hemp, who was born here before leaving at the age of seven to move to England, is already eligible for the World Cup and one-day internationals but would need to be involved in cricket for 100 days out of the last five years to be able to play in the Americas Cup or the Intercontinental competition.

With the BCB keen for Hemp to be involved in all of the matches next year ? and he is understood to be negotiating his new Glamorgan contract to allow him to be released for all Bermuda?s tour games ? they are trying to get him involved in cricket here as soon as possible to get his eligibility for next year.

Hemp, who is a level three coach and also has an MBA, arrives tomorrow and will spend six weeks working with BCB chief executive Neil Speight on a variety of administrative functions within the BCB.

The left-handed batsman, who has drawn comparisons with the elegant strokeplay of David Gower, first contacted the BCB late in the summer and met with Speight in England in September when the chief executive was involved in meetings there.

He then came out for ten days before the squad flew out to Namibia, meeting with Gus Logie and also most of the players.

It is understood he received a favourable reaction from the majority of the squad with many of the players appearing pleased to have someone of his experience and knowledge of the game potentially joining their ranks.

Hemp has already played against both Dean Minors and captain Clay Smith while competing for England South in an international tournament more than ten years ago and he is believed to have been welcomed by both those senior squad members into the fold.

Despite his coaching experience, Hemp will simply be involved with the squad as a player although his experience of the game as well as his skills will bring some professionalism and additional talent to the squad.

?David Hemp was born in Bermuda and is definitely a resource available to the Bermuda squad,? said BCB president Reggie Pearman.

?With all his experience gained in the first-class game over so many years he will be able to add a professionalism to our squad and it is something we wish to take advantage of.

?But there will be no preferential treatment and he will only have the same opportunities as the other players.

?We are absolutely not interested in hiring players just for the World Cup and we have made that clear to him but when we had spoken he made it clear he was only interested if there was a long-term commitment to Bermuda cricket.

?He didn?t just want to parachute in for the World Cup and then get out.?

Pearman described Hemp?s inclusion as ?the natural extension of the Board?s policy of inclusion?.