BBL13: Brisbane Heat star Josh Brown’s mum charts his rise from Salvos clothes to Big Bash final

Hot off watching her son Josh’s powerful 140 in the BBL semi, Kris Brown is just hoping Coles will give her the day off to attend the final in Sydney.

In the world of Twenty20’s cashed-up megastars, it’s quite something to learn of the player who was once dressed by the Salvation Army.

Brisbane Heat sensation Josh Brown, fresh from producing one of the best T20 innings ever seen in Australia, has not only become the biggest thing in the Big Bash via club cricket, but from the most humble origins.

Brown’s mother, Kris, who is being flown to Sydney by Fox Cricket to watch her son in the BBL final against the Sixers, is the 30-year-old’s secret inspiration: a single mother who has worked two jobs and done whatever she could to provide opportunities for her family.

Kris Brown, mum of Josh. Picture: Channel 7

“That’s just life. We’re just blessed that we’ve got a roof over our head and food on the table and my boy and girl are both healthy and happy and that’s what it’s about at the end of the day,” Kris Brown told this masthead.

“You do what you can for your kids. Seriously, we’ve had times where we’ve had to line-up at the Salvos and go shopping at op shops and ask for food and clothes and things like that. But it’s just part of life and you get on with it. You get on with it.”

Kris Brown was last night hoping her employer Coles would give her another day off so she can attend the BBL final, after her son belted an astonishing 140 against the Adelaide Strikers on Monday night to pilot the Heat into a final date against the Sixers.

She recalls taking a young Brown out of school to watch Andrew Symonds and Adam Gilchrist play at the Gabba back in the day, and Kris Brown still can’t quite believe what she witnessed on Monday when her son produced an innings of clean-striking that perhaps not even those two greats could have contemplated.

“Oh my God. How incredible was that,” Kris Brown said.

“I’m still just walking around in a daze. It’s just so surreal.

“I know he’s capable. We’ve seen it for years. He’s a beast, he’s a bison. He’s just an amazing person, seriously. He’s, my baby boy.

Josh Brown hits out on the Gold Coast on his way to 140 against the Adelaide Strikers. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images

“And even just to see him walk out onto the field, even when he first started when he was just running the water out. Just to see him walk out onto the Gabba was phenomenal.

“I used to take him out of high school to go and watch Andrew Symonds and Gilly and all those guys and I said to him, I said, ‘honey, one day you’re going to play here.’”

Kris Brown tells the story of her son being a sporting prodigy who managed to par a hole at a golf course in Brisbane the first time he picked up a golf club as a primary school student.

Another time he scored 10 goals in a game of soccer as the goalie.

But Brown only picked up a cricket bat for the first time as a 13-year-old, and now he is one of the most blockbusting opening batsmen in the Big Bash.

Test great Ricky Ponting said Brown’s journey tells him there might be more hidden sensations in club cricket around Australia waiting for an opportunity.

“I’ve got no doubt, actually,” Channel 7 commentator, Ponting told this masthead.

“I think hopefully over the next couple of years we’ll see more and more of that out of these young guys.

“The onus comes on the teams to promote their younger guys and give them a go. Because I’m sure there is talent out there like that.

“The striking the other night was quite incredible really. Everyone has known for a couple of seasons now what he’s capable of ball-striking wise, but to be able to do it for that long and that consistently and get a 100 like that in a massive game was nice to be there for and see it.”