Years of fast bowling, including stints wearing the baggy green have taken a toll on Ben Hilfenhaus, whose weary body has been forced into retirement from red-ball cricket.
The emotional 32-year-old signalled his departure from the first-class game on Wednesday, but noted he will continue to play in the Big Bash, where he is signed to the Melbourne Stars.
Hilfenhaus is also considering whether he will continue to play the traditional one-day format of the game.
“If you look back over the last couple of years I’ve been hampered a little bit by a few niggles and injuries and it’s prevented the way I want to play cricket,” Hilfenhaus said.
“It was about being honest with myself and admitting my body perhaps wasn’t up to the demands of red-ball cricket.”
An ongoing hamstring complaint has been Hilfenhaus’s latest worry and he admitted the injury forced his decision to retire.
The right-arm quick has played only one Sheffield Shield match this season and at the end of 2015 Tassie coach Dan Marsh said he wanted to see more speed from Hilfenhaus before his recall to the squad.
On Wednesday Marsh said Hilfenhaus’s decision to retire was the right one, but heaped praise on the player for an admirable career.
“Ben has been our best-ever Tasmanian-produced bowler and certainly one of the finest ever cricketers that Tasmania has produced,” Marsh said.
Hilfenhaus made his first-class debut in October 2005, was picked for Australia’s Test side in February 2009 and last wore the baggy green in 2012.
On Thursday Tasmania takes on Shield leaders Victoria at Bellerive Oval and will bring Tim Paine and Alex Doolan into the side to replace Jordan Silk and Jake Doran who have both been dropped.
Paine won’t take the gloves but will open the batting for the Tigers.
Victoria has recalled Cameron White, Jon Holland and Aaron Ayre to replace John Hastings, Glenn Maxwell and Aaron Finch who are on national duty.
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