Victorian Premier Cricket clubs in race to sign big-hitting BBL batter Josh Brown
Josh Brown is a wanted man. Nine Victorian Premier Cricket clubs are keen to sign the new Melbourne Renegade, yet two NSW players may also soon be on recruiting radars.
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Who wants the blazing bat of Josh Brown?
Half of Victorian Premier Cricket’s clubs.
Nine out of the 18 clubs have expressed interest in recruiting the powerful right-hander, who has joined the Melbourne Renegades after his spectacular 2023-24 season for Brisbane Heat in the Big Bash League. Brown, 31, has also signed to play Marsh Cup matches for Victoria.
The Vics have given him permission to take up T20 and T10 offers around the globe, as long as they don’t clash with his commitments with them.
Brown is expected to start training with the state squad on July 1. It’s unclear how many Premier matches he will be available for next season.
Head of Premier Cricket Darren Anderson asked the clubs to lodge their interest in securing Brown. He said half of them were keen to talk and he had referred them to the batter’s management team.
“If I’m being honest, it’s probably what you’d expect for a player coming from interstate … you’d hope there’s a fair response from clubs wanting to gain his services,’’ Anderson said.
“Their submissions will be put through to his management and they’ll work through it all and how they want to go about it, whether it’s short-listing or interviewing and meeting with clubs ahead of making a decision.
“Our role is to facilitate the process to open it up to clubs to express their interest.’’
Ringwood is one of the clubs that has tossed its hat into the ring.
“He’s a great story, coming out of Queensland cricket, and we’d love him to play with us,’’ Rams coach Sean Flynn said.
“We understand it would possibly be a shortened season for him, but he’s obviously a good player and he’d be a good person to have at our cricket club.’’
Meanwhile, two players from NSW may be heading to Victorian Premier Cricket next season.
Western Suburbs leggie Tom Brooks and St George batter Blake MacDonald are considering a move to Melbourne to advance their first-class ambitions.
MacDonald, 26, has played four Sheffield Shield matches for the Blues, the most recent last November.
In November 2022, he captained a combined NSW and ACT team against the West Indies and hit 177 not out from the opening slot. At club level last season, he cracked centuries against Mosman, Sydney, UTS North Sydney and UNSW.
Brooks grabbed 50 wickets for his side as he continued to push towards state selection.
Meanwhile, emerging Essendon batter Farzan Chowna has walked out on the Bombers and joined Premier powerhouse Melbourne.
His decision has disappointed the Dons, who have brought him along in top-team cricket for three years.
Chowna, 20, was named in last season’s Premier Team of the Year after cracking almost 700 runs. His tally included centuries against Melbourne and Melbourne University.
Chowna was called up to the play in the state seconds match against South Australia and scored 4 and 40.
But the Demons may lose their fast bowler Jack Prestwidge, who is being pursued by clubs including Footscray. The former Queenslander was part of the Demons’ 2022-23 premiership team.
Last season’s finalist Prahran has regained Ben Sexton from Frankston Peninsula and recruited left-arm St Kilda spinner Saksham Kapoor.
Originally published as Victorian Premier Cricket clubs in race to sign big-hitting BBL batter Josh Brown
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