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Hard work starts now, says Hemp

While Bermuda’s long-term goal is a good showing at the Division Two qualifiers in Dubai in April, this time around skipper David Hemp doesn’t want his players to focus on anything other than the next game.Given that the 15 players who will all face UAE at some point over the next week know they are fighting for one of the 14 places on that squad, it’s easier said than done.However, Hemp believes the only way that Bermuda will be successful in three months time, is if they get things right now.David Moore’s side have had two full days of practice, which has led them into their first game against UAE today. Another four will follow, with games tomorrow, Friday, Saturday, and next Monday.“It goes without saying that we’re playing five games, and we want to win five games,” said Hemp. “But obviously the goal, what we’re looking at, is naturally April, and (the tour) is a build up to that.“But we don’t want to be getting too carried away with that, I think individuals have got to look at the next game. The first game is certainly the one I’m thinking about, I think you can’t get carried away.“Yes you’re planning, to look ahead, but it’s important that we get things right on the ground at the moment. “We had a good practice, there will be some discussions, and hopefully that will set us up for the games ahead.”The last time these two teams met in July, Bermuda were comprehensively thumped by UAE in all forms of the game. Strangely though, Hemp thinks that playing away from home will be a help, rather than a hindrance.“I think the experience (of playing them in July) will help, simply because we have seen them,” said Hemp. “I imagine we’ll play the same 14 or 15 players that we’ll come up against over the next few days.“It will be different, because the wickets will be different. I think the wicket in Bermuda aided their spinners, it did spin and bounce quite a bit, they tended to base their team around four spinners.“Whether the wickets will bounce as much, turn as much, in these conditions, I don’t know.“The test for us is getting used to these wickets as quickly as we possibly can, we’re netting on surfaces that are supposed to be similar, so it’ll be interesting to see how that goes.”It will also be interesting to see how Bermuda adjust to the conditions, with temperatures in the 80s, and the jet lag from a 13 hour plane journey and an eight hour time difference.Common consensus among fitness professionals, is that elite athletes need one day for every hour in time difference before they are back to performing at their peak.Bermuda got here early Saturday morning, and began their first game this morning.“In an ideal world you’d have a week or so to aclimatise, but we are where we are, we’re fortunate that we have a few days to get used to it,” said Hemp.“We’ve got great facilities here to use and utilise, nice hotel, from that perspective you’ve just got to get on with it.“For us it’s going to be a challenge, it’s a little bit frustrating that we have a couple of senior batsmen that are missing, but I think it gives a great opportunity to other players to come in.“And again it gives David the chance to look at other players, which is important as well. If someone comes out here and gets runs then that creates competition.”n Don’t forget, you can follow all the action from Bermuda’s matches live on our website, www.royalgazette.com.

Jason Anderson during a fitness session at the ICC Global Cricket Academy in Dubai.