Worcestershire CCC Cricket Steering Group Chairman Paul Pridgeon believes Pat Brown’s breakthrough with England will act as an inspiration to the County’s crop of up and coming pace bowlers.
Brown made his senior debut in four T20Is against New Zealand last month and has now been selected for the white ball leg of England’s New Year tour of South Africa.
It has been a rapid rise for the former University Of Worcester student after his splendid performances for Worcestershire Rapids in the 2018 and 2019 Vitality Blast tournaments.
But Pridgeon feels the likes of Josh Tongue, Dillon Pennington and Adam Finch and the more experienced Ed Barnard will take heart from Brown’s international recognition.
He said: “It’s great for the club first and foremost that we are getting more players receiving international recognition.
“It is great for Pat and recognition for all the hard work he has put in and the job he has done for us, particularly in the T20s (Vitality Blast) over the past couple of years.
“It is all-round good news. It is very pleasing.
“The trip to New Zealand has cemented a place for him for South Africa. He has obviously impressed people otherwise they wouldn’t have selected him in that squad.
“It is testament to the job he has done. It is a really quick rise. He is a young man, 21, he is at the start of his career and there is so much for him to look forward to.
“We are very fortunate in that we’ve got a lot of good young seam bowlers in our squad at the moment.
“What Pat has achieved will be inspirational for them but also it gives them something to aim for.
“Josh (Tongue) and Ed (Barnard) have already had Lions recognition. Worcestershire is very much on the radar and don’t forget two years ago Dillon (Pennington) and Adam (Finch) were part of the Under-19 World Cup squad.
“We are obviously doing something right as a club and right now Jack Haynes is with the Under-19s in the West Indies.
“He has done really well and looks a real talent. We all have high hopes for him at the club and it is great for the Haynes family.”
*Worcestershire 2020 Vitality Blast player Ashton Turner was run out for one as his side, Perth Scorchers, were bowled out for 131 and lost by eight wickets to Sydney Sixers in their opening Big Bash encounter.
