Giffen made his first-class debut for South Australia on 24 March 1883, against Victoria at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, scoring a duck and eight as South Australia lost by an innings and 98 runs. He struck better form the next season, against Victoria at Adelaide Oval, top scoring in South Australia's second innings with what was called "a faultless 89" as South Australia lost by four wickets. Giffen lost the tops of two fingers when he got his left hand trapped between a pair of cog-wheels in 1886 at the South Australian Gas Company's Brompton Gasworks. Considered a sound batsman with a solid defence, Giffen's strength was his fielding in the deep and he "possessed a capital return to the wicket". Giffen made his Test debut against England in February 1887 and was involved in a controversial event when Giffen, batting, hit the ball back to the bowler George Lohmann, who knocked the ball on the half volley to W.G. Grace at point. Grace then claimed the catch, and the unsighted umpire gave Giffen out. In 1891 Giffen played for South Australia against the touring English side, making 65 in a total of 562, South Australia's then highest ever score, before being forced to retire hurt when his brother drove a ball straight back down the wicket, hitting the non-striker Giffen on the fingers of his right hand, injuring them so he was unable to continue his innings. In a 1894/95 match against the touring English side, Giffen and Clem Hill added 192 for the eighth wicket, which remained the record South Australian first-class eighth wicket stand until February 2002/03 when Brad Young and Mick Miller added 222 against Queensland.
Controversy over Australian selection
Giffen has been called "one of the worst Test batsmen of all time" and it was alleged that Giffen played Test cricket only because George refused to play unless Walter was also selected. The Australian media was particularly scathing of Giffen's national selection, with The Bulletin publishing a poem ridiculing him and stating "The big black spot on the selection of the Australian Eleven for England is Walter Giffen, whose proper place is in a second eleven. He is simply the brother of George Giffen and that is all." George Giffen always denied having any influence over his brother's inclusion in Australian teams, arguing that Giffen had been picked on the strength of very good batting and when he did not have success in England, "nobody was more surprised than myself, for I had always thought that he would acquit himself well on English grounds."
Personal
In 1896 it was reported that Giffen was an owner of the lucrative "Lucky Hit" gold mine near Blumberg in the Adelaide Hills as well as working in the mine. While there Giffen continued to play cricket, including scoring 150* and 150 for Blumberg Cricket Club against Mount Pleasant and Mount Torrens respectively. He worked for the South Australian Gas Company for nearly 50 years.
