Justin Kemp

Justin Miles Kemp (born 2 October 1977) is a retired South African cricketer who has played Test and ODI cricket for South Africa since the 2000–01 season. Kemp is a right-handed batsman and a right-arm fast medium bowler.

Kemp is the third generation of his family to play first-class cricket: his grandfather John Miles Kemp played a single match for Border in 1947–48, while his father John Wesley Kemp made three appearances for the same province in 1975–76 and 1976–77. His cousin is former South African international David Callaghan.

International career

In 2003, Kemp played in England for Worcestershire, with a best bowling return of 5/48 in the County Championship against Glamorgan in June, and a top score of 90 against Hampshire in the same competition in September.

Kemp made his International debut in an ODI against Sri Lanka on 14 January 2001. He made his Test debut a week later also against Sri Lanka. He was taken on the tour of the West Indies in the 2000/2001 season but he did not score many runs and was involved in a controversy when he admitted smoking marijuana. He was selected for eight more One day games but again he disappointed and was dropped. He was out of the South African side for nearly three years until he was selected to play in the home series against England. In this series Kemp impressed with his big hitting with him smashing 80 runs from 50 balls in an innings that included 7 sixes. Following his performances he was picked for the series against Zimbabwe and in the match at Durban he hit 53 from 21 balls in an innings that included 5 sixes. He was then taken on his second tour of the West Indies where he made an impressive 65 at Trinidad. He was then selected to represent Africa in the Afro-Asian Cup although he batted lower down the order and struggled. In the South African season of 2005/2006 he showed that he is a match winner when he blasted 73 from 64 at Bloemfontein. Kemp then went on his first tour of India where he showed he was able to bat on slower pitches. He went on the South African tour of Australia where he made a rare appearance in a Test Match when he and Jacques Rudolph formed a partnership that rescued a draw for South Africa at Perth. He was not picked for the second Test and has not been picked in a Test Match since. He struggled in the VB Series that involved Sri Lanka, Australia and South Africa with him averaging just 17.00. He quickly returned to form when Australia toured South Africa as he made 51 from 41 balls at Newlands Cape Town.

He was selected in South Africa's squad for the 2006 ICC Champions Trophy in India where he showed he is more than just a big hitter when he made 64 from 110 balls in a partnership with Mark Boucher.On 26 November 2006, in the third ODI of the series between India and South Africa, his side were at 137 for 7 when Kemp came in and smashed his way to his maiden ODI century with the help of Andrew Hall. Together they put on a World Record 8th wicket stand of 138 and took their score to 274, with Kemp named Man of the Match. He also showed that he is a useful medium pace bowler when he took three wickets at St George's Park Port Elizabeth. He was selected in the 30 man provisional squad for the 2007 Cricket World Cup.

Indian Cricket League

In 2008, Kemp joined the rebel Indian Cricket League, which was not recognised by any cricket board or the ICC, thereby ending his international career with South Africa. In the ICL, Kemp played for the Hyderabad Heroes team.

County Cricket

On 20 March 2008, the ECB banned Kemp and four other Kolpak players because of their involvement in the ICL. The decision was, however, overruled and Kemp was cleared to play for Kent, with whom he has a two-year deal. However, changes to the Kolpak regulations meant Kemp could not return to the county for 2010.^[1]

Indian Premier League

In 2010, Kemp joined the Chennai Super Kings franchise of Indian Premier League for $100,000.

References

South Africa squads
South Africa squad – 2007 Cricket World Cup Semi-Finalists 1 Bosman 2 Boucher 3 de Villiers 4 Gibbs 5 Hall 6 Kallis 7 Kemp 8 Langeveldt 9 Nel 10 Ntini 11 Peterson 12 Pollock 13 Prince 14 Smith (c) 15 Telemachus Coach: Arthur South Africa squad – 2007 ICC World Twenty20 1 Smith (c) 2 Bodi 3 Boucher 4 de Villiers 5 Duminy 6 Gibbs 7 Kemp 8 A. Morkel 9 M. Morkel 10 Nel 11 Ntini 12 Philander 13 Pollock 14 Tshabalala 15 van der Wath Coach: Arthur Loots Bosman was ruled out of the competition with a lower back injury.