Unknown grade cricketer Josh Brown explodes in 23-ball 62 for Brisbane Heat

The BBL has a brand new star after unheralded Queensland grade cricketer Josh Brown dismantled the Sydney Sixers at the Gabba with a spectacular 62 off 23 balls.

Brown spanked his 50 off just 19 balls including six sixes. It was the equal fifth fastest in Heat history and featured two of the biggest sixes.

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While most people won’t know his name as he hasn’t played state cricket, he has dominated the grade competition this season.

He has four centuries and five 50s, hitting 1013 runs at an average of 48.24 and a ridiculous strike rate of 162.08.

His 90 sixes this season for the Northern Suburbs District Cricket Club are more than double that of BBL stalwart Ben Cutting, who has 44.

He brought that form into the BBL — racing to a maiden fifty in just his second BBL match.

Brown, who makes custom bats for Cooper Cricket for his day job, twice hit the third tier of the Gabba in a phenomenal innings that had the commentators and social media raving.

He quickly gained new fans after Adam Gilchrist declared: “Just found a new favourite player. I love him!”

The fastest 100 record holder in the BBL Craig Simmons was impressed by what he saw.

“@BBL wow serious striking by josh brown and more importantly has some nice girth about him,” he tweeted.

CODE Sports’ Lachlan McKirdy wrote: “Josh Brown hits his maiden BBL 50 off just 19 balls. Includes five sixes. Remarkable in just his second game.

“Departs for 62 off 23 balls, what a way to announce yourself.”

Sports producer Sarang Bhalerao added: “Josh Brown looks very impressive. Where has he been all this while, @HeatBBL?”

Former journo Ray Gatt posted: “Well that was exciting while it lasted! Magic innings”.

Newscorp’s Tim Michell tweeted: “Nothing better than a guy who’s dominated at the lower level for years who gets his chance and goes off! Love to see Josh Brown go large”.

On Seven, Glenn Maxwell was stunned by the audacity of the hitting.

Asked on Seven about how he pulled off the innings, he said it was pretty simple.

“Just watch the ball, and hit it as far as I can really,” Brown said.

“That was always my plan. Pretty simple.”

On Fox, Brown said his secret was equally simple.

“Just try to keep as still as I can when I’m hitting the ball and hit every ball on its merits,” Brown said.

“I sorta didn’t know I was any good at cricket until I was about 24. And then it all sort of kicked off from there.

“Went from playing third grade to second level cricket in the space of 18 months – it all happened very quickly.”

Brown really became a first grade regular in the past few seasons since the 2018/19 season and played a handful of games for the Queensland second XI but struggled to score big.

Brown wasn’t alone either as 23-year-old South Australian first-class player Nathan McSweeney smashed 84 off 51 balls as the Heat piled on 5/224 off its 20 overs.

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