Brisbane Heat’s Josh Brown on verge of international stardom

He was living at home with his mum and nine cats last year but Brisbane’s Josh Brown could be on the verge of a monumental payday following his record-breaking BBL heroics.

He was living at home with his mum and nine cats last year but Brisbane’s Josh Brown could be on the verge of a monumental payday following his record-breaking BBL heroics.

Brown on Monday night almost single-handedly catapulted the Brisbane Heat into the Big Bash League final with the equal second-fastest century in the competition’s history.

Josh Brown says he is focused on Wednesday’s final, despite his phone “going off” since his incredible 140 runs on Monday. Picture: Steve Pohlner

Brown, who was virtually unknown out of Brisbane local circles only 13 months ago, belted 12 sixes en route to a blistering 140 (57) against the Adelaide Strikers.

Should he produce another epic knock against the Sydney Sixers in Wednesday’s final, Brown would surely come under the international microscope and its riches.

It’s something the humble batmaker daydreamt of but never thought could be a reality.

But Brown, 30, insisted he wasn’t thinking that far ahead.

“At the moment it’s not really on my radar, of course if it comes up the great but at the moment I’m just focused on Wednesday,” Brown said.

“Hopefully we just get the job done, I’d love to do another knock like that in the final.”

Josh Brown of Brisbane Heat plays a shot during the BBL The Challenger Final match against Adelaide Strikers on the Gold Coast on Monday. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

His phone has been in overdrive with attention coming from footy players, a celebrity vet and his childhood hero Adam Gilchrist.

Not bad for a fella who was, until recently, living at home with mum and her nine fostered cats.

“It’s still going off,” Brown said of his mobile.

“Dr Chris Brown, Gilly, heaps of footy players. Gilly just asked me to give him a call. He just wanted to say congratulations on an unbelievable knock. It was pretty special.

“I was living out North Lakes way with mum but now I’ve got a rental at Boondall.

“I’ve managed to get away from the cats, which was nice. She had about eight or nine fostered or rescued cats at home. They had a big enclosure and stuff but it was a lot.”

Since Brown burst onto the BBL last year with another episode stacked with sixes, business has boomed for the apprentice batmaker.

Josh Brown ahead of Wednesday’s final. Picture: Steve Pohlner

Brown makes his own Bison bats at Northgate’s Cooper Cricket.

Owner Rod Grey said his impact on the business had been “phenomenal” from surging enquiries to the thrill when juniors see Brown in the shop crafting willows.

“As a general rule we were always headed in the right direction, but when he did what he did on New Year’s Day last year, that was just bonkers,” Mr Grey said, speaking about Brown’s breakout 62 off 23.

“He has just helped build the brands, not necessarily his bat but as a whole the business has benefited massively.

“His bat doesn’t suit everyone. Sometimes the Bison bat might not be the one but it might be what gets them in the door.”

Grey became emotional when asked about what future was in store for Brown, given his already skyrocketing trajectory.

He said the conversations the pair would have were always about how Cooper Cricket would reap any rewards that came with Brown’s success.

“Josh is a minimal type of guy. A gentle soul who doesn’t need flashy things. He had to go away as an adult with bills, rent and life. He had to do it with no money and to his credit he did it,” Mr Grey said.

“He’s the type of person to put everyone else first. Really quiet, prefers to be in the background.

“We would talk about his dreams. But the convos were always like ‘how good would it be if I did this and Cooper Cricket did this on the back of it’. He’s always been a dream together person.”