9 Facts About Justin Kemp That You Don’t Know

9 Facts About Justin Kemp That You Don’t Know: Justin Miles Kemp, nicknamed ‘Kempie’ by his fellow teammates was a tall, sturdy and well-built cricketer who played for South Africa from the year 2001 to 2007. As time passed by, with his match-winning knocks, he established himself as one of the biggest hitters of the cricket ball and a prolific match finisher for South Africa, especially in the 50 overs format.

However, his inability to maintain his place in the highly competitive South African team and controversies outside the field shortened his highly promising career.

Today on the occasion of his 38^th Birthday, let’s have a glimpse some interesting facts about Justin Kemp.

1.Strong Cricketing Background

Justin Kemp has strong cricketing roots. He is a third generation, cricketer. His grandfather John Miles Kemp and his father John Wesley Kemp played domestic cricket for the Border province in South Africa. His cousin, David Callaghan also had a brief international career for South Africa.

2.Debut

Justin Kemp made his ODI debut for South Africa on 14^th January 2001. Just a week later, on 20^th January, he made a test debut against Sri Lanka.

3.Amazing Entertainer

In his international career, this famed all-rounder created a niche for himself with his frequent six hitting abilities. His batting flair was so unique that most of the times, his majority of runs came from sixes. He entertained everyone with his awe-inspiring stroke play and kept the fans on their feet.

4.An Exciting Match Winner

Kemp was capable of turning the course of matches single-handedly and has done the same on few occasions for South Africa. Initially, he had an ordinary ODI cricket career and was dropped from the side. But after a hiatus of three years, he made his comeback in style smashing 80 runs off just 50 deliveries studded with 7 sixes against England.

Later, he was selected in the 2006 Champions Trophy. He proved himself as a match winner in a match by scoring a 64 runs in 110 balls and stitched a vital partnership with Mark Boucher.

5.Inspiring Century

In the series following series against India, he scored his maiden century for South Africa in late November. At the time when South Africa were on their knees at the score of 138 for 7, he along with Andrew Hall stitched a record 8^th wicket partnership of 138 runs and took his team to a compatible 274.

6.Short Test Career

In the year 2001, Kemp’ made a perfect start to his international career for his country South Africa. He made a mark for himself with the figures of 5-54 against Sri Lanka in the third and the final test of the series. However, as luck would have it, despite a promising start to his career, he could only manage to represent his country in a mere 4 test matches due various reasons.

7.Controversies

In the year 2008, his international career came to an abrupt end when he joined the Hyderabad Heroes in the unrecognised Indian Cricket league (ICL). Later, he was banned by ECB from county playing in the county cricket for his association with the cricket league.

8.IPL Stint

In the year 2009, he quit ICL. Subsequently, in the year 2010, he was bought by the Chennai Super Kings for $100,000 in the Indian Premier League auction.

9.Life after Retirement

Kemp made his last appearance in the South African jersey on 27^th October 2007 against Pakistan. However, he still continues to play for the Antigua Hawksbills and Cape Cobras in the domestic circuit.