Jason Behrendorff


Jason Paul Behrendorff is an Australian cricketer, currently listed with Western Australia and the Perth Scorchers in Australian domestic cricket.
Although born in New South Wales, Behrendorff grew up in Canberra and played representative cricket for the Australian Capital Territory at both junior and senior levels. A left-arm fast bowler, he transferred to Western Australia for the 2009–10 season and made his debut at state level the following season, playing several matches after injuries to other fast bowlers. Behrendorff has since become a regular for Western Australia, opening the bowling in both the Sheffield Shield and the one-day Matador BBQs One-Day Cup. He made his debut for the Perth Scorchers during the 2012–13 season of the BBL, and featured in the Scorchers teams that won consecutive titles during the 2013–14 and 2014–15 seasons.

Domestic career

Born in Camden, New South Wales, Behrendorff grew up in Canberra and played cricket for the Australian Capital Territory at both under-17 and under-19 level. He played grade cricket for Tuggeranong Valley in the grade cricket competition of the Australian Capital Territory and also represented the Prime Minister's XI in a match against the touring New Zealand national cricket team in 2009. Behrendorff was recruited by Western Australia for the 2009–10 season, having impressed state selectors during a trial match.
Beginning in the Futures League, good form allowed him to make his List A debut for Western Australia in the 2010–11 Ryobi One-Day Cup, in a match against Tasmania at Hands Oval. In the match, he dismissed Mark Cosgrove with the first ball of Tasmania's innings, finishing with figures of 1/18 from five overs. Due to injuries to other fast bowlers, Behrendorff played more regularly at state level the following season, taking 4/76 on his Sheffield Shield debut against Victoria in November 2011. He finished the 2011–12 season with 13 wickets from five Shield matches and five wickets from five Ryobi One-Day Cup matches, having often competed with Nathan Coulter-Nile for a regular spot in the side. At the end of the 2011–12 season, Behrendorff was given the "Future Legend" award at the Western Australian Cricket Association's awards night.
Owing to this form, Behrendorff was offered contracts with both Western Australia and the Perth Scorchers for the 2012–13 season. In his first Sheffield Shield match for the season, against Victoria in November 2012, he took 4/29 and 3/24, although Western Australia still lost the match. Behrendorff debuted for Perth in the BBL the following month, taking 3/44 from four overs against the Melbourne Renegades. At grade cricket level, he plays for the Subiaco–Floreat Cricket Club., Behrendorff was studying a sports science degree at Edith Cowan University, having previously undertaken work at Hockey Australia.
In June 2014, pending recovery of an achilles injury, Behrendorff was picked for the Australia A team in a series of four-day matches against South Africa A in Townsville in August 2014. Behrendorff again played for the Scorchers during the 2014–15 BBL season and was a member of the team that won its second consecutive title. Generally opening the bowling, he took 15 wickets from ten matches, equal with teammate Yasir Arafat and behind only the Melbourne Stars' John Hastings for the tournament. Behrendorff bowled 40 overs during the tournament, more than any other player. His wickets came at an average of 16.73 and an economy rate of 6.27 runs per over, which was only beaten by four spinners – Shakib Al Hasan, Michael Beer, Fawad Ahmed and Brad Hogg – amongst those who bowled more than 15 overs.
At the 2014 Allan Border Medal ceremony, held in January 2015, Behrendorff was named "Domestic Player of the Year". He recorded 22 percent of the vote for the award, which is voted on by players, beating teammate Adam Voges.
In February 2017, Behrendorff took figures of 9 for 37 in the first innings against Victoria, the fifth-best figures in the Sheffield Shield.

International career

In August 2017, Behrendorff was named in Australia's Twenty20 International squad for their series against India. He made his T20I debut for Australia against India on 7 October 2017.
On 12 January 2019 he made his One Day International debut against India at the Sydney Cricket Ground, taking 2 wickets. In April 2019, he was named in Australia's squad for the 2019 Cricket World Cup. On 25 June 2019 in the match against England, Behrendorff took his first five-wicket haul in ODIs.

IPL career

In IPL 2018, Behrendorff was signed by Mumbai Indians at 1.5 crore. However, he was ruled out with a back injury before the tournament started. The team retained him for the 2019 IPL season. He made his IPL debut against Chennai Super Kings on 3 April 2019. He was released by the Mumbai Indians ahead of the 2020 IPL auction.

Personal life

In April 2014, Behrendorff married Juvelle Hatt in Perth, Western Australia. His younger brother Luke represented Australia in European handball.