Ben Christopher Brown (born 23 November 1988) is an English cricketer who plays for Hampshire County Cricket Club as a wicket-keeper and right-handed batsman. He had previously played for Sussex County Cricket Club serving as captain from 2017 to 2021.
_(cropped).jpg) Brown batting for Sussex in June 2021 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Full name | Ben Christopher Brown | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 23 November 1988 Crawley, West Sussex, England | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Batting | Right-handed | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bowling | Slow left-arm orthodox | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Role | Wicketkeeper | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Domestic team information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2007–2021 | Sussex (squad no. 26) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2022–present | Hampshire (squad no. 10) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| FC debut | 19 July 2007 Sussex v Sri Lanka A | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| LA debut | 16 September 2007 Sussex v Nottinghamshire | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Career statistics | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Source: CricInfo, 30 September 2023 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Early life
editBrown was born in Crawley, West Sussex and educated at Ardingly College.[1]
Brown came through the Sussex youth system, first appearing at under-11 level and going on to make his second XI debut in May 2004.[2][3] He was a regular for the England under-19 team between 2007 and 2008 featuring in four 'Tests' and 24 'ODIs' including five appearances at the 2008 Under-19 Cricket World Cup.[1][4]
Sussex
editIn July 2007, Brown made his first-class debut for Sussex in a tour match against Sri Lanka A scoring 46 off 25 balls[5] and made his List A debut against Nottinghamshire in September 2007.[6]
Brown's initial opportunities as wicket-keeper were limited by the presence of Matt Prior and Andrew Hodd, but Brown did play eight group games in the 2009 Twenty20 Cup, a competition Sussex would go on to win.[7] On his County Championship debut against Worcestershire in May 2010, he was dismissed for a four-ball duck.[8] He scored his maiden first-class century later that season against Derbyshire in an innings where all of Sussex's top four batsmen made hundreds.[9]
In May 2014, Brown scored a then career-best of 163 against Durham. In partnership with Luke Wright they added a county record 335 for the sixth wicket having come together at 115/5.[10] Brown's score surpassed the best achieved by a number seven batsman for Sussex previously held by Jim Parks.[11] Later that season Brown was awarded his county cap.[12]
In the 2015 season, Brown was one of only two Sussex players to score over 1,000 runs in the County Championship;[13] Brown scored 1,031 Championship runs at an average of 44.82, with four centuries.[14] In December 2015, Brown signed a new contract to stay at Sussex until 2018, and was announced as the county's vice-captain. Sussex head coach Mark Davis described him as a "natural leader".[14]
Following the captaincy resignation of Luke Wright midway through the 2017 season, Brown was named skipper for the remainder of the County Championship campaign.[15] Ahead of the 2018 season he was named the permanent club captain.[16] He finished the year as Sussex's leading run-scorer with over 1,000 first-class runs as well as completing 55 dismissals.[17]
In July 2021, Brown was removed as captain following Sussex's poor performance in the first phase of the 2021 County Championship.[18] His own contribution across the season was 976 runs at an average of 51.36 including four centuries, he ended the campaign batting at number three as a specialist batsman. In December 2021, Sussex announced that they had agreed to Brown's request to leave the club and end his contract which had two years remaining.[19]
Hampshire
editIn January 2022, Hampshire announced the signing of Brown on an initial two-year contract.[20] On 7 April 2022, he made his county debut against Somerset.[21] Two weeks after his debut he made his first century for the club as he hit 157 against Kent, sharing in a stand of 273 with Liam Dawson which broke the Hampshire fifth wicket record.[22]
In May 2024, Brown scored a career-best 165 not out against Surrey as Hampshire inflicted one of their opponents heaviest defeats.[23]
References
edit- ^ a b "Player Profile: Ben Brown". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
- ^ "Player Profile: Ben Brown". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
- ^ "Second eleven championship matches played by Ben Brown (43)". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
- ^ "ICC Under-19 World Cup 2007/08 - England averages". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
- ^ "Sri Lanka A vs Sussex, Tour Match, Hove, July 19 - 21, 2007". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
- ^ "Notts vs Sussex, Hove, September 16, 2007". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
- ^ "Blast from the past: Ben Brown & Joe Gatting". Sussex CCC. 5 March 2018. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
- ^ "Martin-Jenkins fights to keep Sussex afloat". ESPNcricinfo. 26 May 2010. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
- ^ "Four-ton Sussex punish Derbyshire". ESPNcricinfo. 19 August 2010. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
- ^ "Wright latest to send England reminder". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
- ^ Gardner, Alan (12 May 2014). "Onions injury blow adds to Durham's woes". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
- ^ "County Cap - for Sussex - star Brown". Eastbourne Herald. 21 July 2014. Retrieved 2 July 2024 – via Newsbank.
- ^ "Ross Taylor signs up for Sussex stint". ESPNcricinfo. 18 December 2015. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
- ^ a b "Sussex: Ben Brown signs new contract and is named vice captain". BBC Sport. 10 December 2015. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
- ^ "Brown, Taylor named Sussex captains". ESPNcricinfo. 23 June 2017. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
- ^ "Ben Brown appointed club captain". Sussex CCC. 31 March 2018. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
- ^ "First-class batting and fielding in England for 2018 (ordered by runs)". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
- ^ Roller, Matt (24 July 2021). "Ben Brown omitted from Sussex squad after removal as captain". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
- ^ "Club agrees to Ben Brown's request to be released from contract". ESPNcricinfo. 16 December 2021. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
- ^ Roller, Matt (14 January 2022). "Ben Brown signs for Hampshire after early Sussex contract release". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
- ^ "First-class matches played by Ben Brown (192)". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
- ^ "Liam Dawson, Ben Brown centuries put big win in Hampshire's grasp". ESPNcricinfo. 23 April 2022. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
- ^ "Ben Brown and Felix Organ give Hampshire record win against Surrey". ESPNcricinfo. 26 May 2024. Retrieved 2 July 2024.