He is a right-handed batsman and right-arm off-break bowler who plays for Boland. 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.
Birkenstock"s first-class debut came during the 2009-2010 South African cricket season, for Boland against Griqualand West.