“This is like playing for England”

Brown, in the words of his skipper Michael Yardy, is the one to watch out for in the future.

The 22-year old right-handed batsman is excited to be in India for the Airtel Champions League Twenty20.

“It’s almost like playing for England without donning the national colours. I can tell you that a lot of national pride will be at stake.”

Brown’s thrill is balanced incredibly by a studied calm and poise that goes beyond his years and that is when you know, something special is round the corner.

Though he struggled against some fiery pace from Brett Lee and perished to a rush of blood against leg-spinner Steven Smith, there is firmness in his gait.

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That loss against New South Wales the other night would have hurt. Brown, like a lot of other British youngsters would have been seething at the 6-1 ODI drubbing against the arch rivals back at home before seeing their ICC Champions Trophy dreams crashing at the hands of the same opponents.

A chance to avenge was gone on Sunday. However, Brown knows as well as anyone else that a victory against Diamond Eagles tonight will set things up nicely for his team and let him go at his Aussie rivals again but does the rivalry end there for the Sharks?

Brown admits there will be a lot to fight for even against their own countrymen from Somerset, the Sabres.

“We are representing our country and our club. There is a lot of competition between the two sides and maybe we both of us can make it to the next stage.”

The bespectacled batsman almost broke Lee’s thumb and if he gets going, Brown can break a few hopes too. The Eagle will have to keep their claws crossed.