Jonathan Brown reflects on Fox Footy’s Open Mike about bowling bouncer to Ricky Ponting

JONATHAN Brown forged a fearsome reputation in his AFL career, but as a Test skipper found out, he was no less intimidating on the cricket field.

Promotion of new Adidas Fan Jerseys at the Gabba - Brisbane Broncos rugby league player Israel Folau and Brisbane Lions AFL player Jonathan Brown with Australian cricket captain Ricky Ponting.

JONATHAN Brown forged a fearsome reputation in his 15-year AFL career, but as an Australian Test skipper found out, the former Lion was no less intimidating on the cricket field.

Brown, who was a promising left-arm fast bowler before deciding to pursue a football career, recalled on Fox Footy’s Open Mike his experience bowling to Ricky Ponting on the Footy Show in 2007.

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“I thought this was my opportunity to shorten up the Australian captain,” Brown said.

“I was actually out in the car park practising before the show.

“Ricky Ponting said, ‘Now mate, just make sure it’s a nice half volley for me, Browny’.”

“I said, ‘No worries, Punter’.”

Bowling on a shortened pitch and with a tennis ball covered in white electrical tape, Brown unleashed a frightening bouncer that left Ponting jumping.

“I shortened him up,” Brown laughed.

“I said to a couple of the lighting boys — it was a white taped-up tennis ball — just make sure there is a big light right behind my arm.”

“I loved cricket as much as I love football. The only reason I didn’t track down the cricket path was there was only 11 spots in cricket and there’s 700 spots in AFL and I thought I was more of a chance to play AFL.”

WATCH BROWN RECALL THE INCIDENT IN OUR PLAYER ABOVE

Originally published as Jonathan Brown reflects on Fox Footy’s Open Mike about bowling bouncer to Ricky Ponting