Heat hero sets his sights on rich deal overseas
Josh Brown has never received a wink of interest from a rich overseas T20 outfit, but that is set to change because of the record-setting, six-hitting display that put the batmaker from Brisbane and his team within reach of a Big Bash title.
Brown may be a late bloomer at 30 for the Brisbane Heat, yet there is never an expiry date on explosive knocks that win big finals when a franchise is in glory-or-bust mode.
The burly opener’s savage 57ball assault on the Adelaide Strikers on the Gold Coast on Monday night was the highest knock in any finals clash in BBL history and he hit the most sixes (12) in any Big Bash innings.
Brown is hopeful of at least one cash windfall because sales of the bats he makes for Cooper Cricket are going “berserk” after he smashed a 23-ball 62 in just his second BBL game. His sixhitting record on the Gold Coast could have a similar result.
But overseas contracts remain the aspiration for most Big Bash breakthrough players and wildcards can be introduced at any stage to the International League T20 tournament in the United Arab Emirates.
The season in Abu Dhabi, Sharjah and Dubai is under way, and players such as David Warner and recent Heat teammate Colin Munro are involved.
Jake Fraser-McGurk got a late call-up after his breakthrough Big Bash season, which also earned an Australian call-up, and Brown could be next.
“Absolutely, I’d be interested,” Brown said after his century for the Heat. “If the opportunity came up, I’d take it with both hands. I’ve just got to keep scoring runs.
“I’m still pinching myself. I couldn’t get the smile off my face when I reached that hundred. Pretty crazy, really.”
One of the biggest ticks to his mighty 140 was scoring it away from the true bounce of the Gabba on a pitch with two paced tendencies.
The BBL final against the Sydney Sixers on Wednesday night will test Brown on a different lower and slower deck when the pain of losing last season’s final against the Perth Scorchers will be a motivator.
“Losing in Perth really hurt us,” Brown said. “We learnt a lot, have grown a lot and it’s made us tighter than ever as a team.”
Brown credited classy batting partner Nathan McSweeney, a clubmate at Norths in Brisbane, for giving him a more decisive method against the spinners during their 119-run stand.
“He just said ‘watch and react’,” Brown said.