Birrell made his first-class debut for Eastern Province in 1947–48 and played 16 matches over the next four seasons as a middle-order batsman and medium-pace bowler. He reached 50 for the first time in his eighth match, playing for South African Universities against MCC in 1948–49, when he scored 56. He took 2 for 28 and 5 for 33 in Eastern Province's victory over Western Province in 1949–50.Eastern Province v Western Province 1949–50 In the first match of the 1950–51 season he scored 83 and 22 and took 3 for 79 and 3 for 66 against Border.
