Brown to make hay in Miller’s absence
BEVON Brown has been Jamaica’s only specialist off-spinner for some time now, but in the pecking order, the off-break bowler is behind leg-spinner Odean Brown and left-arm orthodox Nikita Miller.
This has limited his chances in the first team despite making his debut in 2004/05 season.
However, with Miller on West Indies duties in Australia, Brown is likely to be included in the starting 11 when Jamaica take on the Combined Campuses and Colleges in a historic day/night four-day match in Guyana on Friday.
Nicknamed ‘Lion’ due to his combative nature, Brown — who has taken 16 first-class wickets at an average of 26.31 — is confident he can fill Miller’s shoes.
“There is pressure,” he admitted in response to the weight of expectation as Miller has been Jamaica’s leading wicket-taker with 22 wickets so far in the competition.
“But I thrive on pressure. I’m used to pressure. I like to work with pressure,” he added.
He said: “Nikita Miller has been doing a good job and now I’m here to fill his spot and do almost the same, or even better.”
Jamaica lead the table with 36 points — three more than Barbados, who have played a game more. Their match against the college men, who have also played an extra match, is therefore crucial as they seek to defend their regional crown.
Seen as a ‘vibes man’, the 30-year-old Brown believes his personality will help the team in the absence of several key players.
“We’re just three points ahead in the table, so everything is out there to play for… there’s no easing up. I’m still going out there to put the work in that the guys, who are gone to Australia, had left… so I’m going out to finish their job,” Brown told the Observer prior to the team’s departure yesterday.
“More than likely the team will need my type of inspiration because even when it seems like we are down I always believe that we have a chance until the ‘fat lady’ sings. And that has been my feeling playing cricket… I never give up.”
Brown has played seven first-class matches for Jamaica, his last being in 2009 against the Windward Islands, which ended in defeat, while he ended the match wicketless.
He remains optimistic and is vowing to make this opportunity count.
“I was always looking forward for selection sometime, somehow. So now that I’m selected, I’ll be grabbing it with both hands,” said the off-spinner who represents top domestic side St Catherine Cricket Club.