When Nottinghamshire Director of Cricket Mick Newell reiterated his desire to recruit an experienced overseas seamer to bolster his attack for the 2015 season, Ben Hilfenhaus fit the bill perfectly.
The 31-year-old will arrive at Trent Bridge in the first week in June, replacing Vernon Philander and will see out the season with Nottinghamshire, competing in all formats.
Hailing from Tasmania, only the second fast bowler from the island to represent Australia, Hilfenhaus has collected 99 wickets in 27 test appearances, while also picking up 38 scalps for his country in one-day cricket.
A relative latecomer to the game, Hilfenhaus was working on a building site as recently as 2005, but found his rise to be a quick one once his talent for swinging the ball at pace was recognised.
His first class debut for Tasmania followed shortly, and while Hilfenhaus took just one wicket in the match, he continued to impress, taking 7-58 against Victoria. He went on to make his ODI and T20I debuts in 2007, before a full Test debut followed in 2009.
Despite never having played in county cricket, he made quite the impact in 2009’s Ashes tour in England, finishing the series with 22 wickets and continued to represent his country through until 2012.
Despite his more recent absence, injuries to frontline members of Australia’s bowling unit has led to calls for his inclusion once more, further demonstrating the calibre of recruit that Nottinghamshire have looked for after Peter Siddle impressed so much in 2014.