Hilton Cartwright is an Australian all-rounder who plays for the Melbourne Stars. Born on 14 February 1992 in Harare, Zimbabwe, he’s a right-handed middle-order batter who once launched a 121-metre six — one of the biggest in T20 history. Cartwright played 2 Tests and 2 ODIs for Australia in 2017, won the Bradman Young Cricketer of the Year, and has been a BBL ever-present since 2012. In January 2026 he signed a two-year extension keeping him at the Stars through BBL|17.
Quick Facts
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Full name | Hilton William Raymond Cartwright |
| Born | 14 February 1992, Harare, Zimbabwe |
| Height | 188 cm (6 ft 2 in) |
| Role | Middle-order batter |
| Batting | Right-handed |
| Bowling | Right-arm medium |
| BBL team | Melbourne Stars (contracted to BBL|17) |
| State team | Western Australia |
| Australia | 2 Tests, 2 ODIs |
Background and Early Life
Cartwright was born in Harare and spent his early life in Marondera, Zimbabwe. At the age of 11 he emigrated to Australia with his family after their tobacco farm was occupied, settling in Western Australia. He came through the WA pathway quickly: his List A debut came in November 2012, his first-class debut in January 2013, and his BBL debut for the Perth Scorchers on 12 December 2012 — all within weeks of each other as a 20-year-old.
International Career
Test career: Cartwright’s domestic form was so strong in 2016 — including 117 for Australia A against India A — that he was called into the Test squad. He made his debut against Pakistan at the SCG on 3 January 2017 (cap 450) and played his second Test against Bangladesh in Chattogram in September 2017. In his 2 Tests he scored 55 runs at 27.50 with a top score of 37. That same January he won the Bradman Young Cricketer of the Year award.
ODI career: A fortnight after his last Test, Cartwright made his ODI debut against India in Chennai on 17 September 2017 (cap 221), playing once more at Eden Gardens four days later. His 2 ODIs brought just 2 runs — international cricket, at the sharp end, is brutal.
T20I career: He hasn’t played T20 internationals for Australia.
Domestic Career
Cartwright has been a Western Australia mainstay for over a decade: 107 first-class matches, 6,080 runs at 35.97 with 10 hundreds and a best of 171 not out. He was a central figure in WA’s Sheffield Shield and One-Day Cup threepeats between 2021-22 and 2023-24, playing in all three successful Shield finals.
He’s also been a county cricket regular in England: Middlesex in 2018, Derbyshire in 2022, and Hampshire in 2025 (re-signed for 2026), plus the Oval Invincibles and Southern Brave in The Hundred. That globe-trotting experience is exactly why the Stars value him.
BBL Career
Cartwright debuted in the BBL on 12 December 2012 for the Scorchers and spent seven seasons in Perth before joining the Stars ahead of BBL|09. Since moving to Melbourne in 2019 he’s played 114 BBL matches and been one of the club’s most consistent performers. His BBL high score is 79, and his strike rate of nearly 125 across his T20 league career shows the power game.
The 121-metre six: In the BBL|14 Melbourne derby at the MCG, with the Stars chasing against the Renegades, Cartwright launched a 121-metre six — the biggest of that BBL season and one of the longest ever recorded in T20 cricket. When Cartwright connects, it stays hit. Derby moments like that are why Stars fans love him.
In January 2026 the Stars re-signed him — along with Sam Harper and Peter Siddle — on a two-year extension through BBL|17. He’s now part of a refreshed Stars side under coach Cameron White, alongside new recruits like the Overton twins and Marcus Stoinis‘s experienced core. Over a decade after his BBL debut, Cartwright remains one of the most trusted names in the league.
Playing Style and Strengths
Cartwright is a genuine three-dimensional cricketer. He can bat anywhere in the order, bowls handy medium pace, and is electric in the field. His power game is the trademark — he hits the ball as hard as anyone in the league — but it’s his versatility that keeps him employed everywhere. Need a finisher? He can do that. Need six overs of medium pace? He can do that too.
What to Watch in BBL|16
At 34, Cartwright is the wise head in a Stars side that’s been rebuilt around youth and new signings. Watch his role in the middle order: he’s the man who can either rebuild an innings or launch it into the second tier. If the Stars are going to break their title duck, they’ll need his experience in the big moments.
Keep an eye on his bowling too. He doesn’t bowl much, but his medium pace has broken partnerships before — and in a T20 league where match-ups rule, a surprise over or two from Cartwright could be the difference in a tight game. After 114 BBL matches, he’s seen everything the league can throw at him.
Key Stats
Test Career (Australia)
| Matches | Runs | Average | High Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 55 | 27.50 | 37 |
ODI Career (Australia)
| Matches | Runs | Debut |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | 2 | 17 September 2017 vs India |
First-Class Career
| Matches | Runs | Average | 100s | High Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 107 | 6,080 | 35.97 | 10 | 171* |
BBL Career
| Matches | High Score | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 114 | 79 | 121m six in BBL|14 derby |
Last verified: 18 October 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many BBL matches has Cartwright played?
114 — seven seasons with the Perth Scorchers followed by the Stars from BBL|09, with a contract running through BBL|17.
How far was Cartwright’s biggest six?
121 metres — in the MCG derby against the Renegades during BBL|14, the biggest six of that BBL season.
Which BBL team does Hilton Cartwright play for?
The Melbourne Stars since BBL|09. He previously played seven seasons for the Perth Scorchers.
Has Cartwright played for Australia?
Yes — 2 Tests and 2 ODIs in 2017, and he won the Bradman Young Cricketer of the Year in January 2017.
See the BBL 2027 schedule for Stars fixtures, meet the other BBL 2027 teams, and check the BBL 2027 points table once the season starts.