Ben Edmondson

Another consistent season from Ben Edmondson in 2007-08 confirmed him as one of the most dangerous fast men in Australia's domestic first-class competition. Injuries kept him to seven Pura Cup appearances but he collected 26 wickets at 25.65 and was particularly impressive at the Gabba against his former state Queensland, when he grabbed a career-best 7 for 95. Also useful in the FR Cup, he picked up ten wickets at 18.50 from only five games. Had Edmondson played the full summer, he could perhaps have bettered his impressive 2006-07 tally of 41 first-class victims at 29.95. Only Ben Hilfenhaus and Andy Bichel took more Pura Cup wickets in 2006-07, which was a breakthrough season for Edmondson. His speed and ability to swing the ball suited the conditions at Hobart where he humiliated Tasmania with 6 for 28 as they were dismissed for 94, and he collected another four in the second innings to record his first ten-wicket match.

He originally accepted an invitation from Western Australia when he was languishing in the Queensland fast-bowling queue, and five days after landing he was in the Warriors' Pura Cup team as a mid-match replacement. He took three wickets in the final session and by the end of that season he had 28 victims at 31.61 and a reputation for speed as well as an occasional lack of direction. The former Queenslander also played a part in knocking over his old side in a dramatic ING Cup final victory that he lists as his biggest moment in sport. The following summer he led his state's wicket list with 29 in seven games and figured in the Prime Minister's XI, while 2005-06 ended in him earning a spot at the mature-age Academy after taking 24 Pura Cup wickets at 33.79. Originally from Townsville, Edmondson was a state representative through the under-age and youth ranks, in 2003 represented Denmark in a one-day game against Scotland, and spent the 2007 off-season with Gloucestershire.
Cricinfo staff September 2008