The dependable all-rounder
Cartwright's job is to be the player who does the unglamorous work well. He bats in the middle order, bowls medium pace when the captain needs a change, and fields sharply — the kind of all-rounder who rarely makes headlines but regularly makes the side better.
He has played for Australia in one-day internationals, earning his cap in 2017, and he has been a mainstay of Western Australia's domestic side for years. The Stars signed him from the Scorchers, where he was part of a title-winning squad, and his experience of winning — and of playing in a side that expects to win — is part of what the Stars are buying. This is a club that has never won the title, and it needs players who know what a winning dressing room feels like.
Squad note: the Stars have announced 14 players so far, as of 31 October 2026. The full squad has not been announced — clubs can carry up to 18 players and are still adding names — so this page will be updated as the club confirms more signings.
A decade of domestic cricket
Cartwright was born in Zimbabwe and moved to Australia as a youngster, coming through Western Australia's system as a tall right-handed batter who could bowl. He made his name in Shield cricket, where his ability to bat long and bowl useful overs made him a regular for the state.
His international chance came in 2017, when he played one-day cricket for Australia, and he has been in the frame for white-ball selection since. In the BBL he has been a Scorchers player for most of his career, part of the most successful club in the league's history. The move to the Stars is a new chapter — a chance to be a senior player in a side that needs leadership, rather than a squad member in a side that already has it.
Where he fits in the Stars
The Stars' middle order is full of stars — Maxwell, Stoinis, Allen — and Cartwright is the player who holds it together. When the big names fall early, he is the batter who rebuilds; when they fire, he is the one who keeps the scoring rate up without taking risks.
His medium pace is also useful at the MCG, where the big outfield rewards bowlers who change pace and make batters hit to the long boundaries. He is not the fastest bowler in the side, but he is one of the smartest, and his overs in the middle of the innings give the captain a chance to rest the frontline quicks. If the Stars are to end their wait for a first title, it will be because players like Cartwright did the quiet work well.
The BBL Points Table will carry the standings once the season starts — the Stars finished fourth last season, their best return in years, and the table is where their title chase will be measured.
What’s next
Hilton Cartwright starts BBL|16 at the MCG on 18 December, against Adelaide Strikers — the quiet professional in Stars colours for the first time this season.
The full list of every BBL fixture is on the BBL Schedule, with the MCG opener against the Strikers first.
- Match 5 — vs Adelaide Strikers: Fri 18 Dec, 1:45 PM IST · Melbourne Cricket Ground
- Match 8 — vs Brisbane Heat: Mon 21 Dec, 1:45 PM IST · Junction Oval, Melbourne
- Match 13 — vs Perth Scorchers: Sat 26 Dec, 3:45 PM IST · Perth Stadium
- Melbourne derby — vs Melbourne Renegades: Sat 16 Jan · Melbourne Cricket Ground
Follow every Stars result as it happens on SialTV, with the points table updated after every match day.
Frequently asked questions
Has Hilton Cartwright played for Australia?
Yes. He played one-day international cricket for Australia in 2017.
Which BBL team did Hilton Cartwright play for before the Stars?
The Perth Scorchers, the most successful club in BBL history. He joined the Stars for BBL|16 and is contracted through BBL|17.
When does Hilton Cartwright play his first match for Melbourne Stars?
His first match is Match 5 against Adelaide Strikers on Friday 18 December 2026, starting at 1:45 PM IST at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.