Pat Brown: A break through year
It's been an excellent season for Patrick Brown, he has broken into the first team at Worcestershire CCC, and looking more and more confident every time he steps out onto the field. He is bowling quick and has a smooth run up, and most importantly very level headed.
Brown started his career at Market Deeping as a young boy, and fell in love with the club and the game. His passion and dedication for the game is clear to see, he plays with his heart on his sleeve and gives everything he has on the field, second best not being good enough. He made his debut in the County Championship when Worcestershire faced Sussex in August. This is the game where Patrick claimed his first of what is going to be many, first class wickets. He claimed the wicket of Jofra Archer, and Brown, his friends, Market Deeping, his family, and his father, former local cricket player Darrin Brown were over the moon.
On his third first class game, Patrick Brown earned his best bowling figures at this level, 2/15 vs. Leicestershire, after claiming another local player, Zak Chappell for the second time in the game and Dieter Klein, before he could get off the mark. Patrick Brown's first professional game was in the NatWest t20 Blast, he played 6 times, bowling well regularly, fielding well, and playing on television. A brilliant breakthrough season, having started the season playing in the second eleven.
Brown's debut was against Nottinghamshire in the Blast, playing at Trent Bridge. A lovely place to make your debut of course. Brown opened the bowling against, the best opening combination in this years Blast, Riki Wessels and Alex Hales. Brown bowled well and showed no fear what so ever, starting with an excellent Yorker that had to be well dug out at the feet of Alex Hales. A brilliant start for Brown.
The future is very bright for the popular Patrick, he has his feet on the ground and has a lot of support and a strong family and set of friends behind him. He is currently on a scholarship at Worcester University, the same one awarded to Darryl Mitchell in the past, and it is safe to say, the former Bourne Grammar School student is enjoying life at New Road. Brown has some big wickets to his name, not just in the County Championship, but when he played in the Worcestershire second eleven. He claimed the wickets of Ben Duckett of Northamptonshire, and Haseeb Hameed of Lancashire twice. Credit for this season accomplishments, should also be enjoyed by the fantastic coaches at Worcestershire. Steve Rhodes has been excellent, and shows faith in not just Brown, but everyone that plays for WCCC and the rapids, especially young players coming through the ranks. Also, strength & conditioning coach, Ross Dewar and Matt Mason, the assistant coach & fast bowling coach at Worcestershire County Cricket Club. Both Dewar and Mason have worked very hard with Brown.
As mentioned, before Brown began his Worcestershire adventure, he played for Market Deeping, a Lincolnshire Premier League club. Inspirational club legend, David Gillett showed a lot of faith in Brown from a very early age, and it is clearly to see why. With an eye for talent, Gillett called a 14 year old Brown up to play away at Lindum, in June 2013. He got himself a not out, but it wasn’t until the next weekend, when Market Deeping hosted Louth, Brown was handed his first over in the premier league, and he made his mark. He took two wickets, one of Stewart West, Louth’s number three, and also claimed England Women’s international opening batsman, Arran Brindle, as his first wicket, dismissing her for 0, a great to start to what is becoming an increasing excellent career. In the second game, he also got himself another not out, making it two in a row, a start that would have made skipper David Gillett very proud. Patrick went through strength to strength, learning more and more from players such as David Gillett, Lee Peacock, Ali Sharp, Chris Jones, John McDougal and many more. When Brown was not playing cricket for his club, he was playing for his county, as well as with his friends, a true passion for the game. As this season almost ends, with just one more fixture for WCCC, as they host Durham on the 25th September, I think we can all agree on what a great season it has been for Patrick Brown. I, like many, am very excited to see what the future holds for Patrick Brown, I know he will always get 110% whatever he does.