Travis Birt
Encyclopedia
Travis Rodney Birt is an Australian cricket
er, who currently plays Australian state cricket for Western Australia
, and in the Indian Premier League
for Delhi Daredevils
. Birt is a left-handed batsman and a right-arm medium bowler who has played First class and List A cricket since 2003, for Tasmania
and Derbyshire
.
selection, Travis Birt has produced a couple of consistent if unexceptional seasons for Tasmania. His main problem has been an inability to turn starts into first-class centuries. In 2006–07 he was part of the Tasmania triumphant Pura Cup
side and made a thoroughly respectable 736 runs at 38.73 with one hundred, and the next season he collected 565 runs at 31.38 without once reaching triple-figures. Still, he was one of five men to play every Pura Cup
game for the state last summer and with the retirement of Michael Di Venuto
his importance in the top order will grow. He is already a key man in the one-day setup and his calm batting in the low-scoring FR Cup final last season won the title for Tasmania. Birt top scored against Victoria with an unbeaten 37 and coolly struck the winning runs with the No. 11 Ben Hilfenhaus
at the other end, to complete a strong season that brought him 355 runs at 44.37.
A heavy-hitting left-hander who enjoys blasting sixes, Birt secured a reputation for brutal strokeplay when he posted 145 against South Australia in 2004–05, the highest score in Tasmania's one-day history. He made his first-class debut in the same season but had to wait until the following year to feel at ease at the next level. Opposition bowlers did not feel comfortable as only Darren Lehmann
and Jimmy Maher
made more Pura Cup
runs than Birt's 850 at 50. New South Wales
felt his impact during an innings of 160, which included seven sixes and 19 fours, and he also shared a state-record partnership of 292 for the fourth wicket with George Bailey
when making 140 against South Australia. A former Academy and Australia Under-19 player who relocated from country Victoria
, Birt has spent time playing with Derbyshire
but did not return there in 2008 and instead had hip surgery during the off-season.
. He failed to make an impact, scoring only one run before being bowled by acting Pakistani captain Shoaib Malik
. Birt was retained in the side for the second and final Twenty20 match at Bellerive Oval
in Hobart
—his home ground. However, he could only manage 13 from ten balls, as Australia completed a 2–0 sweep.
Despite being dropped for the First Twenty20 International against New Zealand in Wellington, Birt was recalled for the Second match where he did not bat. At the end of both innings' the scores were tied, before New Zealand won courtesy of a super-over, levelling the series 1–1.
in the Big Bash League
.
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 currently plays Australian state cricket for Western Australia
Western Warriors
The Western Australia cricket team are an Australian first class cricket team representing the state of Western Australia...
, and in the Indian Premier League
Indian Premier League
The Indian Premier League is a professional league for Twenty20 cricket competition in India. It was initiated by the Board of Control for Cricket in India , headquartered in Mumbai, and is supervised by BCCI Vice President Rajeev Shukla, who serves as the league's Chairman and Commissioner...
for Delhi Daredevils
Delhi Daredevils
Delhi Daredevils is the Delhi franchise for the Indian Premier League in cricket. The franchise is owned by the GMR Group.-Franchise history:...
. Birt is a left-handed batsman and a right-arm medium bowler who has played First class and List A cricket since 2003, 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...
and Derbyshire
Derbyshire County Cricket Club
Derbyshire County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the England and Wales domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Derbyshire...
.
Early cricket career
After a standout 2005–06 season which saw him earn Australia AAustralia 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...
selection, Travis Birt has produced a couple of consistent if unexceptional seasons for Tasmania. His main problem has been an inability to turn starts into first-class centuries. In 2006–07 he was part of the Tasmania triumphant Pura Cup
Pura Cup
The Sheffield Shield is the domestic cricket competition of Australia. The tournament is contested between teams from the six states of Australia. Prior to the Shield being established, a number of intercolonial matches were played. The Shield, donated by Lord Sheffield, was first contested during...
side and made a thoroughly respectable 736 runs at 38.73 with one hundred, and the next season he collected 565 runs at 31.38 without once reaching triple-figures. Still, he was one of five men to play every Pura Cup
Pura Cup
The Sheffield Shield is the domestic cricket competition of Australia. The tournament is contested between teams from the six states of Australia. Prior to the Shield being established, a number of intercolonial matches were played. The Shield, donated by Lord Sheffield, was first contested during...
game for the state last summer and with the retirement of Michael Di Venuto
Michael Di Venuto
Michael James Di Venuto is a former Australian cricketer of Italian descent who played first-class cricket for Tasmanian Tigers and One Day Internationals for Australia. Although he has retired from representative cricket in Australia, he currently continues to play for Durham CCC. He has also...
his importance in the top order will grow. He is already a key man in the one-day setup and his calm batting in the low-scoring FR Cup final last season won the title for Tasmania. Birt top scored against Victoria with an unbeaten 37 and coolly struck the winning runs with the No. 11 Ben Hilfenhaus
Ben Hilfenhaus
Benjamin William Hilfenhaus is an Australian cricketer who plays for the Tasmanian Tigers in Australian domestic cricket. Hilfenhaus plays club cricket for Tasmania University Cricket Club. Prior to turning fully professional, he worked as a bricklayer as well as playing cricket...
at the other end, to complete a strong season that brought him 355 runs at 44.37.
A heavy-hitting left-hander who enjoys blasting sixes, Birt secured a reputation for brutal strokeplay when he posted 145 against South Australia in 2004–05, the highest score in Tasmania's one-day history. He made his first-class debut in the same season but had to wait until the following year to feel at ease at the next level. Opposition bowlers did not feel comfortable as only Darren Lehmann
Darren Lehmann
Darren Scott Lehmann is a former Australian cricketer, who made his ODI debut in 1996 and Test debut in 1998. He was on the fringes of national selection for the entirety of the 1990s, and only became a regular in the ODI team in 2001 and Test team in late 2002, before being dropped in early 2005...
and Jimmy Maher
Jimmy Maher
James Patrick Maher is a former Australian cricketer. He is "an attractive left-handed batsman with a clumping cover-drive"....
made more Pura Cup
Pura Cup
The Sheffield Shield is the domestic cricket competition of Australia. The tournament is contested between teams from the six states of Australia. Prior to the Shield being established, a number of intercolonial matches were played. The Shield, donated by Lord Sheffield, was first contested during...
runs than Birt's 850 at 50. New South Wales
New South Wales Blues
The New South Wales cricket team are an Australian first class cricket team based in Sydney, New South Wales...
felt his impact during an innings of 160, which included seven sixes and 19 fours, and he also shared a state-record partnership of 292 for the fourth wicket with George Bailey
George Bailey (cricketer)
George John Bailey is an Australian cricketer, and the captain of the Tasmanian Tigers in Australian first class cricket...
when making 140 against South Australia. A former Academy and Australia Under-19 player who relocated from country Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
, Birt has spent time playing with Derbyshire
Derbyshire County Cricket Club
Derbyshire County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the England and Wales domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Derbyshire...
but did not return there in 2008 and instead had hip surgery during the off-season.
International debut
On 5 February 2010, Birt made his Twenty20 International, and subsequent international debut for Australia, against Pakistan at the Melbourne Cricket GroundMelbourne Cricket Ground
The Melbourne Cricket Ground is an Australian sports stadium located in Yarra Park, Melbourne and is home to the Melbourne Cricket Club. It is the tenth largest stadium in the world, the largest in Australia, the largest stadium for playing cricket, and holds the world record for the highest light...
. He failed to make an impact, scoring only one run before being bowled by acting Pakistani captain Shoaib Malik
Shoaib Malik
Shoaib Malik is a Pakistani cricket player and former captain. He made his One-Day International debut in 1999 against the West Indies and his Test debut in 2001 against Bangladesh. He has taken over 100 ODI wickets, and has a batting average in the mid 30s in both Test and ODI cricket...
. Birt was retained in the side for the second and final Twenty20 match at Bellerive Oval
Bellerive Oval
Bellerive Oval, also known as its sponsored name Blundstone Arena, is primarily a cricket and Australian Rules Football ground located in Bellerive, City of Clarence, on the eastern shore of Hobart, Tasmania, Australia...
in Hobart
Hobart
Hobart is the state capital and most populous city of the Australian island state of Tasmania. Founded in 1804 as a penal colony,Hobart is Australia's second oldest capital city after Sydney. In 2009, the city had a greater area population of approximately 212,019. A resident of Hobart is known as...
—his home ground. However, he could only manage 13 from ten balls, as Australia completed a 2–0 sweep.
Despite being dropped for the First Twenty20 International against New Zealand in Wellington, Birt was recalled for the Second match where he did not bat. At the end of both innings' the scores were tied, before New Zealand won courtesy of a super-over, levelling the series 1–1.
Move to Western Australia
In 2011, Birt moved to Western Australia. He has also signed up to play for the Hobart HurricanesHobart Hurricanes
The Hobart Hurricanes is a cricket team based in Hobart who represent Tasmania in the Big Bash League. The Hurricanes will wear a purple kit.Their inaugural coach is Allister de Winter. Their inaugural captain is Tasmanian wicket-keeper and vice captain Tim Paine.The Hurricanes have been described...
in the Big Bash League
Big Bash League
The KFC t20 Big Bash League is the Australian domestic Twenty20 cricket tournament. The Big Bash League replaces the previous competition, the KFC Twenty20 Big Bash and will feature city-based franchises instead of the state teams which had participated previously. The inaugural season will begin...
.
External links
- Travis Birt at Cricket Archive
- Travis Birt at Cricinfo