Kent Cricket Academy graduate plays for Queensland in Sheffield Shield

Kent Cricket Academy graduate Charlie Hemphrey has broken into the Queensland side after moving to Australia.

The Yorkshire-born batsman, now 25, was educated at Harvey Grammar School in Folkestone and played for Kent’s second XI after progressing through the age groups to join the first Academy intake in 2003 which included future England internationals Joe Denly and Lydia Greenway.

This season is proving to be a breakout year for the former Kent man after earning a call-up to the Under-23 side for the Toyota Futures League, he scored a century against New South Wales in Brisbane.

His knock of 140 caught the selectors’ eyes and he earned a call-up to the state side for the Sheffield Shield win against Victoria, where he scored a duck in an innings victory.

He showed his talent in his second innings against Tasmania this week, scoring 58 in an opening stand of 124 which helped secure another innings win for the Bulls.

Hemphrey was an all-rounder in his Kent days, taking 6/54 in his last second XI outing in 2012 alongside current first team stars Daniel Bell-Drummond, Ben Harmison, Alex Blake and Fabian Cowdrey.

Hemphrey also turned out for Essex and Derbyshire’s second string during his formative years before making the move after several winters spent playing Grade cricket Down Under.