‘I was born and brought up in the UK… but my career is over because I’m NOT qualified to play for England’: Glamorgan batsman calls for ‘compassion’ as barmy rules jeopardize entire future, but ECB were ‘perfectly happy’ to change them for Jofra Archer
- Charlie Hemphrey was born in Doncaster but is not qualified to play for England
- He moved to Australia and gained residency after being released by Kent
- Hemphrey broke into the Queensland side after impressing at Grade level
- ECB regulations state that this lost him his status as qualified for England
- He has had to serve a three-year qualification process to regain it
- Financial struggles mean Glamorgan are prioritising English-qualified players
- Hemphrey has one year left on his deal before he is considered qualified again
- He could now terminate Glamorgan contract and return to playing in Australia
A Glamorgan batsman born in Doncaster and raised in Kent has hit out at barmy ECB rules that mean his career could be over because he doesn’t qualify to play for England.
Charlie Hemphrey, who gained Australian residency after moving to Brisbane at 24, has asked for ‘compassion’ from English cricket’s governing body with his classification as a non-qualified player leaving him resigned to his fate.
His county deal still has a year to run but could be scrapped before Hemphrey is able to regain qualification for England, with Glamorgan so hamstrung financially that they can’t afford to pass up the incentives that come with fielding players able to represent the country.
Glamorgan batsman Charlie Hemphrey’s career could be over due to a barmy ECB rule
Hemphrey (middle) lost his England qualification after gaining residency in Australia
‘My playing career is over,’ Hemphrey told ESPNcricinfo. ‘It seems ridiculous to me that someone who was born in the UK and spent most of their life there isn’t considered as England qualified.
‘But unless the ECB show some discretion here – unless Alan Fordham does, really, because it’s his decision – they’re effectively ending my career.’
Hemphrey moved to Australia after he was released by Kent, having all but given up hopes of a professional career.
He continued to play Grade level Down Under, and managed to break into the Queensland side in 2015 after a series of impressive scores. He became the first England-born player to register a Shield century since John Hampshire in 1978.
Hemphrey gained Australian residency, which meant he lost his status as qualified for England. ECB regulations state that that once you have played ‘in Professional Cricket in any other country outside England and Wales… except as an overseas cricketer’ then you lose that status.
The 31-year-old has had to serve a three-year qualification process, which still has another year to run, after signing with Glamorgan in 2019.
Hemphrey moved to Australia and played for Queensland after he was released by Kent
Glamorgan, though, are struggling financially and with the ECB paying counties incentives to field players qualified for England, the Welsh side may have to maximise the income they can gain in 2021.
That would mean no place for Hemphrey, who is reported to now be negotiating the termination of his contract.
‘I’ve no hard feelings towards the club at all,’ Hemphrey said. ‘I understand their financial position. I’m grateful to them taking a chance on me originally and being straight with me now.
‘But I am disappointed with the ECB. They were perfectly happy to change the rules when they wanted Jofra Archer to win them a World Cup. I know I’m no world-beater, but it seems pretty tough to end my career like this. I’d like Alan Fordham to reconsider.’
Archer bowled England to victory in the super over of the Cricket World Cup final in 2019 having only gained eligibility to represent the country of his father’s birth four months earlier.
He says that the ECB were ‘perfectly happy’ to change their rules for Jofra Archer in 2019
His contract at Glamorgan could be terminated before he completes re-qualification process
The rule change meant overseas cricketers could be eligible to play for England after living in the country for just three years instead of the previous seven.
This change also benefits Hemphrey, who would have had to wait until 2026 to regain England qualification under the old rules, which were being changed regardless of Archer’s situation.
‘I’m livid about it, to be honest,’ Hemphrey continued. ‘These rules clearly weren’t put in place to prevent people like me, who have spent most of their life in the UK, from playing county cricket. But through a lack of flexibility – a lack of compassion, really – they’re ending my career. I just think they could show a little bit of discretion.’
The ECB point out that Hemphrey and Glamorgan were aware of the rules when he signed two years ago. They say it is their duty to apply the regulations fairly across all 18 counties and that is Glamorgan’s decision not to Hemphrey rather than the ECB’s.
‘The ECB applies the criteria for England Qualification with fairness and consistency across all elite domestic teams and their players,’ a spokesperson told Sportsmail. ‘The regulations allow players to be eligible to compete as County Qualified players even if they are not England Qualified’.