Behrendorff calls time on stellar WA career

Behrendorff was just 19 years old when he accepted his first state contract, leaving the comfort and familiarity of Canberra to begin life in Perth.

Now 34, he signs off with five One-Day Cup titles (2014-15, 2017-18, 2021-22, 2022-23 and 2023-24) and 75 ODC wickets (fifth all-time for WA) to his name.

Available for selection this season despite forgoing a WA contract to pursue franchise T20 opportunities, Behrendorff said the time was right to step back altogether.

“It is the end of one chapter which has been a really exciting one,” Behrendorff said.

“It’s been so much fun. I’ve been able to live my childhood dream playing state cricket to then have played cricket for Australia as well. The WACA Ground has been my home for so long now.

“I’ve spent my whole adult life here, really. I turned 19 when I came across and I’m now nearly 35 and have certainly had a lot of good times, but felt time timing was right to move on to the next chapter.”

Known primarily as a prodigiously skilful limited overs bowler, Behrendorff was equally effective for WA’s Sheffield Shield team before a series of back injuries prematurely ended his red ball career.

The languid left-armer took 126 wickets in 30 Shield games between 2011 and 2017, recording the best strike rate (44.34) and third-best average (23.31) of any WA player with 100 victims or more.

Behrendorff also produced one of the most dominant performances in Shield history, tearing through Victoria at the WACA Ground in 2017 with first innings figures of 9-37 (second all-time for WA). He then collected another five wickets in the second innings and finished the match with 14-89, fractionally short of the WA record held by Terry Alderman (14-87).

Though forced to give away the game’s longest format, Behrendorff is proud of the physical and mental fortitude he displayed during a decorated state career. 

“It’s been no surprise to people who know me or a little bit about cricket that I’ve battled with quite a few injuries across the journey,” Behrendorff said. 

“To keep getting back up every time I had a setback, to continue to play good cricket, to be involved with each team and to win trophies … I didn’t think my career at WA would end up like this in terms of the success I was able to have both personally and with the team, so for that I’m very proud and very grateful.”

Behrendorff celebrated KFC Big Bash League championships with Perth Scorchers in BBL|03, BBL|04, BBL|11 and BBL|12, taking 140 wickets (second all-time for Perth) in 106 BBL games for the Club.

He will continue to play in franchise T20 competitions across the globe, including signing for Melbourne Renegades last month, and is excited by the prospect of spending more time with his family. 

“It played a huge part in my decision to retire. I know that I’m away with international commitments, franchise leagues and the like, but I want to be home and present for my kids. In particular, things like school pick-up and drop-off,” Behrendorff said. 

“To be able to do those things I don’t always get to do, to spend more quality time with my wife, Juvelle … to be able to immerse myself more in family life.”

Behrendorff spoke glowingly of the playing group with whom he grew up, declaring his heart would always remain at the WACA Ground.

“It’s tough to summarise such a bond in words, but it’s something we built over a long period of time,” he said.

“You think about anything in life that’s worth something, it generally takes some time to build that, to get better at something, to manufacture something, to grow something.

“We worked really hard on building something we were proud of, and that we could all reflect on and say we’ve been involved in something that means more than cricket.”