 He was born in Pretoria.Birkenstock began his cricketing career in the English Southern Premier Cricket League, playing for Andover, who finished in sixth position in the 2008 table, a season in which he played 15 of the team's 16 matches.Birkenstock played two matches for Worcestershire Second XI during the 2008 season, scoring a half century in his second of three innings for the side.