Ben Hilfenhaus can safely lay down his trowel after a series of dramatic performances in his first two seasons catapulted him to a national contract in 2007. Two years prior Hilfenhaus was earning money on a building site, but his ability to swing the ball away at 140kph has earned him a six-figure pay packet. "It has been a fast ride," he said after picking up the Bradman Young Cricketer of the Year prize in February 2007. A month earlier he represented Australia for the first time in a one-day international on his home ground at Hobart, taking only 12 balls to get his maiden wicket when he trapped Brendon McCullum. He is still waiting for a second chance.

A strong and fit man from Ulverstone in northern Tasmania, Hilfenhaus is only the second fast bowler from the state to play for Australia after Greg Campbell, who is Ricky Ponting's uncle. While shaping the ball away is his specialty, he can also angle it in and his repertoire was crucial to the Tigers' maiden Pura Cup victory in 2006-07. Hilfenhaus' 60 wickets at 25.38, the third most in the competition's history, included three five-wicket hauls, but his back-breaking workload must be monitored over the next few seasons. He delivered 509.1 overs in the first-class arena that summer, nearly 200 more than any of his domestic fast-bowling counterparts. His collection of 28 wickets at 43.82 in 2007-08 was not the follow-up campaign he wanted but the selectors showed faith and chose him in Australia's Test squad to visit the West Indies in 2008, although he was later ruled out due to a recurrence of stress fractures in his back.

In his opening season Hilfenhaus quickly built a strong reputation and after 39 wickets at 30.82 was named in the Australia A squad for the Top End series. Hilfenhaus, a former national under-19 representative, also accepted an invitation to return to the Academy after first attending the facility when it was based in Adelaide in 2002. He was Man of the Match in his second game against Victoria and his first-season highlight was a ten-wicket haul, including 7 for 58 in the second innings, against New South Wales.
Peter English September 2008

Commonwealth Bank Cricket Academy 2002

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Oct 20, 2007 Ben Hilfenhaus appeals against Gautam Gambhir © Getty Images

Oct 18, 2007 Ben Hilfenhaus bowls during a practice session © Getty Images

Oct 16, 2007 Ben Hilfenhaus finetunes his throwing © Getty Images

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