Josh Brown’s Bison bats tipped for sellout after Brisbane Heat blast

Six-hitting Brisbane Heat batter Josh Brown has made such an impact that his childhood hero Adam Gilchrist has told TV audiences the second-gamer is his new favourite player.

He’s the signwriting apprentice with a major in bat making, now Brisbane Heat new boy Josh Brown is the man “everyone wants a piece of” with his signature Bison bats set to sell out.

The 29-year-old Heat second-gamer became an overnight star of the Big Bash League after he spanked 62 off 23 in a power display against the Sydney Sixers at the Gabba.

Brown smashed six sixes in the rapid-fire knock to set up a crucial win for the home side, which survived a fightback in a match that came down to the final over.

His brutal innings shocked the BBL and his childhood hero, TV commentator Adam Gilchrist, who declared Brown his new favourite player.

Brisbane Heat opener Josh Brown produced an amazing innings of 62 off only 23 deliveries, a feat that’s set to send his bat sales soaring. Picture: Lyndon Mechielsen

So destructive was the innings that the online sales of his gear sold out on Sunday night, with Cooper Cricket customers demanding to know more about the Bison bat.

Brown forged his own Cooper Bison bat and said it “cannoned” off the middle, as witnessed by more than 20,000 Gabba faithful.

“We’ve sold out of all the Bison soft gear, bags; they’ve gone pretty quickly,” Brown said from Cooper Cricket store at Northgate.

Brown not only makes his own bats but restores willows for teammates and juniors alike.

Cooper Cricket owner Rod Grey said his website had blown up.

“They’re all asking what bat and what gear Josh uses – it’s unreal,” Mr Grey said.

“He’s only been with me for about three years but fitted in straight away.

“He’s so humble, I trust him with everything.”

Brisbane Heat’s Josh Brown at Cooper Cricket in Northgate, where he works as a bat maker. Picture: Lyndon Mechielsen

Brown, nicknamed Bison by his mates at 21 because he was a “big fella with long, curly hair”, has earned a reputation as one of Brisbane Premier Grade’s cleanest hitters.

He’s slogged his way to 90 sixes this past season for Northern Suburbs, more than double of BBL legend Ben Cutting, who has 44.

“I always knew I could do it, but not at the top level,” Brown said.

In what makes his innings more remarkable, Brown gave cricket up for a year and was nearly lost to the game altogether.

Josh Brown raises the bat for the Heat after smashed a half century against the Sydney Sixers. Picture: Getty Images

He only started taking it seriously and knuckling down on his fitness at 23.

“I was just playing fifth grade for Norths, just having fun and slowly working my way up,” he said.

“When I first started, I had to learn how to defend and it was a long learning curve.

“I found it hard to contain myself, especially in red-ball cricket.

“It was difficult for me to trust my defence. I’d always get out for 30 off 15.

“Before I moved to Norths, I could have just kept working, but I decided to give it a real crack.”

While only Brown can take credit for his out-in-the-middle heroics, without his mum Kris, he might have struggled to get to the Gabba.

The gearbox of his Holden Commodore broke down on the way to training in December, leaving him without wheels.

“Mum and my sister have been looking after me, luckily,” the former Wavell State High School student said.