Hilfenhaus calls time on first-class career

Hobart - Former Australia Test bowler Ben Hilfenhaus has announced his retirement from first-class cricket, but plans to continue playing with Melbourne Renegades in the domestic Twenty20 competition.

The 32-year-old paceman, who played 27 Tests for Australia, the last in 2012, took 99 wickets.

He has played only one Sheffield Shield first-class match for Tasmania this season as he struggled to find form after returning early from England's county season, where he played for Lancashire, with a hip injury.

Hilfenhaus, a former bricklayer, told the Cricket Australia website on Wednesday "I've had to make a decision with regards to my body not being able to perform at the level I'd like in four-day cricket anymore."