Ben Hilfenhaus

Benjamin William Hilfenhaus (born 15 March 1983) is an Australian former professional cricketer who played for Tasmania in Australian domestic cricket and for the Australia national cricket team.

He is right-arm fast-medium bowler known for his ability to swing the ball.

Hilfenhaus plays club cricket for Tasmania University Cricket Club.

The 19-year-old Hilfenhaus was one of 25 young players given scholarships to go to the Commonwealth Bank Cricket Academy in May 2002, and later that year he was given a rookie contract with Tasmania for the 2002/03 season.

In 2003 Hilfenhaus was again included in the 25-man intake to the CB Cricket Academy.

He made his first-class cricket debut in the 2005/06 season and his haul of 39 wickets was a record for someone playing their first season for Tasmania.

It was not until 17 October 2005 that he made his senior debut aged 22, playing for Tasmania in the Pura Cup, Australia's first-class competition.

The match ended in a draw and Hilfenhaus took a single wicket, that of Mitchell Johnson bowled, while conceding 126 runs.

For the 2005/06 season Hilfenhaus still had a rookie contract and also worked as a bricklayer.

That season he claimed 39 wickets in the Pura Cup at an average of 30.82, breaking the record set by West Indian Michael Holding for most first-class wickets in their first season for Tasmania.

Hilfenhaus was rewarded with a full contract with Tasmania for the first time and he was given a place in the Australia "A" squad for the winter Top End series.

He had previously represented Australia at under-19 level.

Before he was given a full-time contract for 2006/07, he worked as a bricklayer as well as playing cricket.

He has best bowling figures of 7/58 in first-class cricket, achieved in his first season for Tasmania.

The 2006/07 season saw Hilfenhaus named Tasmania's Player of the Year as the club won the Pura Cup for the first time.

The 2006/07 was even more successful for Hilfenhaus who won the Ricky Ponting Medal, awarded to Tasmania's Player of the Year.

In eleven Pura Cup matches he took 60 wickets, including seven wickets in the final to help his team win the cup for the first time.

In January 2007 Hilfenhaus made his One Day International (ODI) and Twenty20 International (T20I) debuts for Australia.

The following month he was named the Bradman Young Cricketer of the Year.

Hilfenhaus made his International début in a Twenty20 international for Australia against England at the Sydney Cricket Ground on 9 January 2007.

He bowled four overs and took two wickets for 16 runs.

This was followed up by selection in the one-day team for the One Day International on 14 January against New Zealand at Bellerive Oval, his state team's home ground.

He took his first ODI wicket (Brendon McCullum) in his second over.

Hilfenhaus quickly became a local favourite, with the crowd cheering "Hilfy" whenever he was involved in play.

In February Hilfenhaus was named the Bradman Young Cricket of the Year.

Cricket Australia announced its 25 contracted players in May 2007 and Hilfenhaus was included in on the list for the first time.

He was included in Australia's squad for the 2007 Twenty20 World Championship, his first tour with the senior national side, as a replacement for Shaun Tait.

and the One Day International tour of India.

He also received a call up to the Test squad to take on Sri Lanka when South Australian fast bowler Shaun Tait was ruled out with injury.

However, he did not get to add to his international appearances on any of the above occasions.

Hilfenhaus was chosen in Australia's 15-man Test squad to tour the West Indies in May 2008.

A stress fracture of the back prevented him from departing with the touring party and ruled him out of playing; instead fellow fast bowler Doug Bollinger was selected in his place.

After losing the home Test series against South Africa in December 2008, Australia embarked on a tour of South Africa in February 2009 needing to avoid losing the series to retain the top spot in the ICC's Test rankings.

Hilfenhaus debuted in the first Test, one of three frontline fast bowlers alongside Mitchell Johnson and Peter Siddle.

Between them they had experience of 22 Tests compared to the 144 South Africa's quicks had played in.

Australia won the series 2–1 and Hilfenhaus played in all three matches, taking 7 wickets while conceding 366 runs.

During his time with Australia, Hilfenhaus won the 2009 ICC Champions Trophy.

Due to injury setbacks he had to wait until 2009 before making his Test debut.

Hilfenhaus was given a chance in the 2009 Ashes after a solid performance in South Africa and an injury to Brett Lee.

In February 2016 Hilfenhaus announced his retirement from first-class cricket, due to ongoing injuries.