Brody Couch eyes United States move after tough season

Geelong speedster Brody Couch is taking steps on the road to playing in the next world cup for a nation that hasn’t qualified for the tournament before.

Brody Couch could swap Warrnambool for Washington when he heads to United States.

Geelong speedster Brody Couch could take the first steps towards a T20 World Cup appearance this winter when he spends the off-season playing in the United States.

Brody Couch celebrates a wicket for Geelong.

The Victorian rookie contracted quick from Warrnambool is in the process of sorting out his US passport given his mother hails from the States, with a plan to take part in the inaugural Major League Cricket season.

The Major League season begins in Dallas in July, with teams set to be based in major markets Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, Seattle and Washington DC.

Couch would qualify as a local American player for the tournament, which is holding a local player combine later this month.

He is hoping to also play in the Minor League, the competition a step below.

Couch could potentially then qualify for the US national side, which has qualified automatically for the 2024 T20 World Cup given it is sharing hosting duties with the West Indies.

Brody Couch in full flight. Picture: Mark Wilson

Couch said the World Cup was “still a long way off but that is definitely the dream”.

“It is a possibility, that would be pretty awesome,” he said.

“The next T20 World Cup is in the US and the West Indies so they will be qualifiers. That’s why the Major League and the Minor League will be important because they are building grounds and getting things sorted for that 2024 world cup.”

Couch will return from the US with a BBL season to prepare for, given he holds a contract with the Melbourne Stars for next year.

After a breakthrough campaign in the 2021-22 season, in which Couch played 14 matches and lead the Stars with 16 wickets, he was only called upon once this season as the Stars slumped to the wooden spoon.

The right-armer also made his Sheffield Shield debut last summer and played a handful of one-day matches with Victoria but hasn’t taken to the field for the state side this season.

Couch collected his best figures of the season with hauls of 3-70 and 4-41 in Victoria’s Second XI win over ACT last month and is hopeful of playing the state’s final fixture against Tasmania next week.

“It is pretty frustrating (not playing at a higher level) but I think that’s going to be a great learning curve for me for my whole career that there are going to be ups and downs,” he said.

“I think the most important thing I have gotten out of not playing is working on my craft and a lot of that has been off the field.”

Originally published as Brody Couch eyes United States move after tough season