Ben Hilfenhaus

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Personal information
Ben Hilfenhaus
Australia
Full name	Benjamin William Hilfenhaus
Nickname	Hilfy
Born	15 March 1983 (1983-03-15) (age 25)
	Ulverstone, Tasmania, Australia
Height	1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)
Role	Bowler
Batting style	Right-hand
Bowling style	Right-arm fast-medium
Domestic team information
Years	Team
2005 -	Tasmania
Career statistics
	Tests	ODIs	FC	List A
Matches	-	1	24	24
Runs scored	-	0	178	25
Batting average	-	0	9.36	6.25
100s/50s	-	0	0/0	0/0
Top score	-	0	34	14*

Balls bowled	-	42	5,860	1,299
Wickets	-	1	106	28
Bowling average	-	26.00	29.40	31.60
5 wickets in innings	-	0	4	0
10 wickets in match	-	n/a	1	n/a
Best bowling	-	1/26	7/58	3/30
Catches/stumpings	-	1/–	7/–	5/–
As of 30 November 2007 Source: cricinfo.com

Benjamin William Hilfenhaus (Pronounced Hilfen-House) (born 15 March 1983 in Ulverstone, Tasmania), is an Australian cricketer who plays for the Tasmanian Tigers in Australian domestic cricket. He is Ricky Ponting's second cousin. Hilfenhaus plays club cricket for Tasmania University Cricket Club. Prior to turning fully professional, he worked as a bricklayer as well as playing cricket.^[1]

He is right-arm fast-medium bowler known for his ability to swing the ball. He has best bowling figures of 7/58. Hilfenhaus took 39 wickets at 30.82 in his debut season and was rewarded with a place in the Australia "A" squad for the winter Top End series. He had previously represented Australia at under-19 level.

Hilfenhaus made his International debut in a Twenty20 international for Australia against England at the Sydney Cricket Ground on January 9, 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 January 14 against New Zealand at Bellerive Oval, his state team's home ground. He took his first ODI wicket (Brendon McCullum) in his second over. He is expected to start challenging from a more stable place in the Australian team over the next few years, although he faces competetition for a place from two other young fast bowlers, Mitchell Johnson and Shaun Tait.

On February 6, 2007, Hilfenhaus was named the Bradman Young Cricketer of the Year. He was a convincing winner of the award, as he polled 97 votes to finish well clear of second-placed Cullen Bailey of South Australia (11 votes) and NSW's Edward Cowan (6 votes). He was the leading wicket-taker across Australian cricket during the voting period with 75 wickets at 25.17 in 23 matches.

There have been several comparisons made between Hilfenhaus and a young Glenn McGrath^[2] and McGrath himself described him as "very impressive" ^[3].

After receiving his first full national contract with the Australian cricket team, Hilfenhaus was included in Australia's squads for the 2007 Twenty20 World Championship 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. ^[4] However, he did not get to add to his international appearances on any of the above occasions.