Brown heads from BBL win to Bangladesh after big week
Scott Bailey |
Josh Brown’s BBL innings of a lifetime has landed the 30-year-old a maiden overseas deal, with the opener to immediately join the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL).
As revealed by AAP on Wednesday, Brown’s management fielded offers from both Bangladesh and the ILT20 after his record-breaking 140 against Adelaide in the BBL finals.
Brown backed that up in the SCG decider on Wednesday night, hitting 53 against the Sydney Sixers to set the tone for the Heat as they won their first title in 11 years.
Soon after, the man who makes his own bats by day agreed to a deal to join the Chattogram Challengers for the rest of the BPL.
It is believed the chance to get regular overseas cricket and open alongside Phil Salt formed part of the Brown’s decision to prioritise that offer.
His rise is remarkable when considering he was still playing fourth grade in Brisbane at age 24, and did not debut in the BBL until last season.
Brown had produced some sparkling knocks before Monday night, but it was his BBL-high 12 sixes in the 57-ball innings that catapulted him into the sights of overseas teams.
In a statement on Wednesday night, the Challengers labelled Brown a “dashing” opener while posting links to his BBL innings on their social media.
More interest could now await the right-hander, with Queensland Cricket having links to Major League Cricket in the US and approaches from T10 leagues.
Heat teammates believe Brown can become a gun for hire on the lucrative T20 circuit.
“He’s always felt like he can do that. He just needed a little stage to show it,” Matt Renshaw said.
“The last couple of games have been amazing for us. Just to be able to go out there on not easy wickets and play shots that he did, it is pretty remarkable.”
AAP