HAMILTON, Bermuda (CMC) – Experienced Bermuda captain David Hemp says he is looking forward to working with new national coach David Moore as Bermuda bid to regain the One-Day International status they lost last April during World Cup qualifiers in South Africa.

Moore, a 45-year-old Australian and former West Indies coach, was named last Thursday as successor to Trinidadian Gus Logie, who stepped down last September after four years at the helm – a period in which he guided Bermuda to their first World Cup, staged in the Caribbean in 2007.

But Logie was bitterly disappointed with the team’s performance when they failed to win a spot in next year’s World Cup in Asia during the qualifiers in South Africa, which signalled not only Logie’s departure but the retirement of three key players, including charismatic 280-pound slow bowler Dwayne Leverock.

Bermuda face a busy upcoming schedule with Intercontinental Shield matches against Namibia and United Arab Emirates either side of an ICC Americas tournament.

The 39-year-old Hemp, a former English county player, said he welcomed the opportunity to work with Moore and hoped his players would follow suit.

“I think the fact that you have a new coach taking over, and again, if you like, it’s a new beginning for Bermuda cricket,” said Hemp.

“When Gus (Logie) took over five years ago that was the start of something else, and that ended up in a World Cup place.

“Unfortunately, we’ve slipped away from the ODI status, and it’s important we raise ourselves back up the rankings and make Bermuda cricket high profile once more.

“It is a new start and I think it’s a great opportunity, certainly for younger players, to develop their game under a new regime.”

While the Bermuda Cricket Board only confirmed Moore’s appointment three days ago, Hemp has been speaking to his new coach for much of the past week, making plans for a training camp in South Africa, prior to the Intercontinental Shield game in Namibia.

“The fact that he’s had international experience with the West Indies is great for the country,” said Hemp.

“I think it might give him a slight insight, but cultures do vary across nations.

“I think it’s quite a generalisation to say West Indies culture is similar to Bermuda. There are similarities, but Bermuda’s situation is not just the culture, the way cricket is played also has an English influence because of it being a colony.

“A lot of the players have been to England, have been educated there, have seen English players play, so there is a bit of a mix and match if you like.”