Dene Hills
Encyclopedia
Dene Fleetwood Hills was an Australian First Class cricket
er who played for the Tasmanian Tigers
. He was a left-handed top order batsman, who spent much of his career opening the batting alongside Jamie Cox. He currently works as a batting coach for the England and Wales Cricket Board
. Commentator Darren Berry
regarded Hills as one of the better players never to have played test cricket.
, Tasmania
, where he soon showed the talent that would lead him on to represent his state in first-class cricket.
After attending the Australian Cricket Academy in 1989, Dene Hills made his debut for Tasmania
against Western Australia
at Hobart in the summer of 1991–92. Hills had limited success in List A cricket, but truly shone as a batsman in the Sheffield Shield.
He quickly established himself at the top of the order at a time when Tasmania was re-organising itself into a competitive side. He soon formed a strong friendship with fellow opener Jamie Cox, and the pair blossomed into one of Tasmania's best opening partnerships of all time. The pair formed one of the most consistent domestic partnerships of the 1990s, and Hills defensive strength was the perfect foil for Cox's more attacking flair.
He brought up the first of his 21 first-class centuries with a mature-looking 106 against a vastly experienced Queensland
side in his debut season, and the following year, 1992–93, he added four more tons at a season average of 50.16. He topped Tasmania's run charts for the 1993–94 season, and his 1,068 runs at 48.54 helped to guide the Tigers into their first-ever Shield final. Their inexperienced side were unable to win on that occasion, but the strong team-ethos of that period helped to build the platform that would lead to later success.
Hills had quickly settled into his role as the mainstay at the top order, and as he matured as a player, he learned to build ever larger innings. In the 1995–96 season he scored his first double-century against a Queensland
bowling attack that featured the international veterans, Carl Rackemann
, Michael Kasprowicz
and Craig McDermott
, all of whom he seemed at ease when facing during that epic innings. The following season, 1997–98, Hills was in the form of his life, and he scored two more double-centuries back-to-back; 205 against the Victorian Bushrangers
, and then his career best 265 in the next match against Southern Redbacks
. The two mammoth innings helped him to compile 1,220 runs for the season and again guide the Tigers to the Shield final. The tally also earned him the 1997–98 Sheffield Shield Cricket of the Year award.
Hills came closest to receiving international honours following that brilliant season when he was selected for an Australia A
tour of Scotland and Ireland. He made a dashing 118 in the opening match against Scotland, which was his highest-ever limited-overs score, but regrettably the match was not afforded official List-A status, and so Hills ended his career without an official limited-overs century to his name.
In the 1999–2000, and 2000–01 seasons, Hills' form slumped dramatically, with his season average ending below 25.00 for the first time in both campaigns. in the 2000–01 season, he was dropped after just four matches, and after an illustrious decade leading the Tigers from the front, Dene Hills bowed out of First-class cricket with scores of 5 and 3 in his final two innings. Hills finished his first-class career with 7,894 runs at an average of 40.07 with a highest score of 265.
As his playing career wound up, Hills also found time to represent Australia in 2001 in the prestigious Hong Kong Sixes competition in Kowloon, scoring the most runs in that year's tournament.
.
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
er who played for the Tasmanian Tigers
Tasmanian Tigers
The Tasmanian cricket team, nicknamed the Tigers, represents the Australian state of Tasmania in cricket tournaments. They compete annually in the Australian domestic senior men's cricket season, which currently consists of the first-class Sheffield Shield, the limited overs Ford Ranger Cup, and...
. He was a left-handed top order batsman, who spent much of his career opening the batting alongside Jamie Cox. He currently works as a batting coach for the England and Wales Cricket Board
England and Wales Cricket Board
The England and Wales Cricket Board is the governing body of cricket in England and Wales. It was created on 1 January 1997 combining the roles of the Test and County Cricket Board, the National Cricket Association and the Cricket Council...
. Commentator Darren Berry
Darren Berry
Darren Shane Berry is a former Australian cricketer who was known for his sharp skills as a wicketkeeper with Victoria in the Sheffield Shield and ING Cup domestic competitions...
regarded Hills as one of the better players never to have played test cricket.
Early life
Dene Hills grew up in WynyardWynyard, Tasmania
Wynyard is a rural town on the north-west coast of Tasmania, Australia. It lies west of Burnie on the Bass Highway at the mouth of the Inglis River....
, Tasmania
Tasmania
Tasmania is an Australian island and state. It is south of the continent, separated by Bass Strait. The state includes the island of Tasmania—the 26th largest island in the world—and the surrounding islands. The state has a population of 507,626 , of whom almost half reside in the greater Hobart...
, where he soon showed the talent that would lead him on to represent his state in first-class cricket.
First-class career
By the time he had finished school, Hills had already given indication of the talent he possessed. A gifted batsman with a strong defence, he showed a natural preference for off-side play, and could cut and drive elegantly.After attending the Australian Cricket Academy in 1989, Dene Hills made his debut for Tasmania
Tasmanian Tigers
The Tasmanian cricket team, nicknamed the Tigers, represents the Australian state of Tasmania in cricket tournaments. They compete annually in the Australian domestic senior men's cricket season, which currently consists of the first-class Sheffield Shield, the limited overs Ford Ranger Cup, and...
against Western Australia
Western Warriors
The Western Australia cricket team are an Australian first class cricket team representing the state of Western Australia...
at Hobart in the summer of 1991–92. Hills had limited success in List A cricket, but truly shone as a batsman in the Sheffield Shield.
He quickly established himself at the top of the order at a time when Tasmania was re-organising itself into a competitive side. He soon formed a strong friendship with fellow opener Jamie Cox, and the pair blossomed into one of Tasmania's best opening partnerships of all time. The pair formed one of the most consistent domestic partnerships of the 1990s, and Hills defensive strength was the perfect foil for Cox's more attacking flair.
He brought up the first of his 21 first-class centuries with a mature-looking 106 against a vastly experienced Queensland
Queensland Bulls
The Queensland cricket team, nicknamed the Bulls, are the Brisbane-based Queensland representative cricket team in Australia's domestic cricket tournaments:*Sheffield Shield, 4-day matches with first-class status, since the 1926/27 season...
side in his debut season, and the following year, 1992–93, he added four more tons at a season average of 50.16. He topped Tasmania's run charts for the 1993–94 season, and his 1,068 runs at 48.54 helped to guide the Tigers into their first-ever Shield final. Their inexperienced side were unable to win on that occasion, but the strong team-ethos of that period helped to build the platform that would lead to later success.
Hills had quickly settled into his role as the mainstay at the top order, and as he matured as a player, he learned to build ever larger innings. In the 1995–96 season he scored his first double-century against a Queensland
Queensland Bulls
The Queensland cricket team, nicknamed the Bulls, are the Brisbane-based Queensland representative cricket team in Australia's domestic cricket tournaments:*Sheffield Shield, 4-day matches with first-class status, since the 1926/27 season...
bowling attack that featured the international veterans, Carl Rackemann
Carl Rackemann
Carl Gray Rackemann OAM , born in Wondai, Queensland, is a former Queensland and Australian cricketer. He was a fast bowler in 12 Tests, 52 ODIs and 167 first-class cricket matches in a career spanning 1979–80 to 1995–96....
, Michael Kasprowicz
Michael Kasprowicz
Michael Scott Kasprowicz is a former Australian Test cricketer. He is a right arm fast bowler, effective outfielder and useful lower order batsman, and has enjoyed a successful career both in Australia and in the English county scene since making his debut for Queensland as a seventeen year old in...
and Craig McDermott
Craig McDermott
Craig John McDermott is a former Australian cricketer. He is currently the bowling coach for the Australian cricket team....
, all of whom he seemed at ease when facing during that epic innings. The following season, 1997–98, Hills was in the form of his life, and he scored two more double-centuries back-to-back; 205 against the Victorian Bushrangers
Victorian Bushrangers
The Victorian cricket team, nicknamed the Bushrangers, is an Australian cricket team based in Melbourne, that represents the state of Victoria. It is administered by Cricket Victoria and draws its players from Melbourne's Premier Cricket competition...
, and then his career best 265 in the next match against Southern Redbacks
Southern Redbacks
The South Australia cricket team, nicknamed the Southern Redbacks and known as the West End Redbacks due to their sponsorship agreement with local brewers West End, are an Australian first class cricket team based in Adelaide, South Australia, and represent the state of South Australia...
. The two mammoth innings helped him to compile 1,220 runs for the season and again guide the Tigers to the Shield final. The tally also earned him the 1997–98 Sheffield Shield Cricket of the Year award.
Hills came closest to receiving international honours following that brilliant season when he was selected for an Australia A
Australia A cricket team
The Australia A cricket team is a cricket team representing Australia and is the second team of the Australian cricket team. They have also played far more one-day than first-class matches; indeed they have played only three first-class games against equivalent A sides, against South Africa A in...
tour of Scotland and Ireland. He made a dashing 118 in the opening match against Scotland, which was his highest-ever limited-overs score, but regrettably the match was not afforded official List-A status, and so Hills ended his career without an official limited-overs century to his name.
In the 1999–2000, and 2000–01 seasons, Hills' form slumped dramatically, with his season average ending below 25.00 for the first time in both campaigns. in the 2000–01 season, he was dropped after just four matches, and after an illustrious decade leading the Tigers from the front, Dene Hills bowed out of First-class cricket with scores of 5 and 3 in his final two innings. Hills finished his first-class career with 7,894 runs at an average of 40.07 with a highest score of 265.
As his playing career wound up, Hills also found time to represent Australia in 2001 in the prestigious Hong Kong Sixes competition in Kowloon, scoring the most runs in that year's tournament.
Later life
Following his career as a player, Dene Hills moved into cricket coaching and spent time as an assistant coach with both the Tigers, and then the Australian national team. He also spent time working for the Cricket Centre of Excellence. In August 2008, he was named as a new batting coach for the England and Wales Cricket BoardEngland and Wales Cricket Board
The England and Wales Cricket Board is the governing body of cricket in England and Wales. It was created on 1 January 1997 combining the roles of the Test and County Cricket Board, the National Cricket Association and the Cricket Council...
.