Josh Brown could attract overseas interest after setting BBL record

Phone calls from celebrities were one thing after swatting a record 12 sixes on the Gold Coast and now Josh Brown could take his slogging to the world.

Boundary-crusher Josh Brown has never had even a wink of interest from a rich overseas T20 outfit yet that is set to change because of the record-setting six hitting display which 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 57-ball assault on the Adelaide Strikers on the Gold Coast on Monday night was the highest knock in any finals clash in BBL history with the most sixes (12) in any innings.

The morning after the night before, Brown conceded he pulled up “pretty bad” having batted with a hip injury which he needed to manage on an early morning flight to Sydney and ahead of Wednesday’s SCG showdown with the Sydney Sixers for the trophy.

“I should be right,” he said on Tuesday morning, having been dropped off at the airport by his mother who was emotional after his innings and again on the car ride.

“I’ll have to keep managing it. It was the twisting and the turning. The way I was batting is not too good for the body. I put a lot of strain down the right side.”

The injury may impact Brown’s capacity for running, but he said he has a way through that.

“I find it easier to just hit sixes.”

His capacity to clear the pickets could bring about at least one cash windfall with sales of the bats he makes for Cooper Cricket going “berserk” after he smashed a 23-ball 62 in just his second BBL game and his six-hitting record on the Gold Coast could have a similar result.

“It was wild after that knock last year. I made about 90-100 bats last year, so it’ll be interesting to see what happens now,” Brown said.

The most insane innings.

Here's all of Josh Brown's record-breaking 12(!!) sixes. #BBL13pic.twitter.com/SGFndB8fc2

— KFC Big Bash League (@BBL) January 22, 2024

But overseas contracts remain the aspiration for most Big Bash breakthrough players and hile a call from TV vet Dr Chris Brown was among the calls as his phone “blew up” overnight the requests to play cricket could also soon come thick and fast.

Wildcards can be introduced to the International League T20 tournament in the United Arab Emirates being played at any stage.

The season in Abu Dhabi, Sharjah and Dubai is just under way with players like David Warner and recent Heat teammate Colin Munro 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. If the opportunity came up I’d take it with both hands. I’ve just got to keep scoring runs,” Brown said with the euphoria still fresh after his century heroics.

“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.

Wednesday night’s BBL final against the Sydney Sixers will test him on a different lower and slower deck when the pain of last season’s losing final against the Perth Scorchers will be a major motivator.

“Losing in Perth really hurt us as a group. We learnt a lot, have grown a lot and it’s made us tighter than ever as a team,” Brown said.

Strikers captain Matt Short bowled an opening over of off-spin against Brown on the Gold Coast to supposedly expose a weakness against slower bowling. None existed when leggies Cameron Boyce and Lloyd Pope were being pulverised over the boundary for six yet Brown expects the same tactic from the Sixers.

“I’d be more surprised if they opened with pace. (Left-arm spinner) Steve O’Keefe is still crafty in his old age. He changes his pace and arm angles. He’s got me out a few times so hopefully I get on top of him before he does,” Brown said with a smile.

Josh Brown's mum is in disbelief 🥲@erinvholland | #BBL13pic.twitter.com/7DEzsMXeWA

— 7Cricket (@7Cricket) January 22, 2024

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.

“Sometimes I don’t make up my mind against spin. He’s seen me bat at my best and my worst and he just said ‘watch and react’,” Brown said.

Originally published as Josh Brown could attract overseas interest after setting BBL record