Ali brown was one of the best players never to get a test cap. not picked, like Martin bicknell because his face didn't fit... but what a player.
Nottinghamshire batsman Ali Brown
has confirmed he will finish his 22-
year career at the end of the season
having suggested last summer that
this would be his final campaign.
Brown, who joined Nottinghamshire
from Surrey in 2009 and helped them
to the Championship title last season,
drifted out of the first team earlier in
the summer with the county putting
their faith in younger players. If
Brown doesn't play another first-class
match he'll finish with 16,898 runs at
42.67 alongside more than 11,000 List
A runs, which makes him one of the
most successful domestic players not
to have earned a Test cap.
He did, though, enjoy a brief one-day
international career of 16 matches
which began in 1996 when England
were searching for a hard-hitting
opener. Brown scored a century
against India, at Old Trafford, in his
third game but struggled after that
and finished with an average of 22.12
after his last outing in 2001.
On the county scene, however, he
continued to be a consistent scorer
even if the returns did dip somewhat
from their highpoint and he
contributed 863 runs during
Nottinghamshire's successful 2010
Championship campaign. Brown's
one-day career was highlighted by two
double centuries; the first his 203
against Hampshire in the Sunday
League in 1997 and then his 268
against Glamorgan, at The Oval, in
2002.
"I always believed that the day my age
exceeds my batting average it would
be time to consider calling time on my
career," Brown said. "I've made a lot
of lifelong friends at Trent Bridge and
The Oval. I've had a very enjoyable
career at two great clubs and I've
managed to win Championships at
both of them which is something I
could only have dreamed of when I
started my career.
"I'm available for all selection until the
end of the season and hopefully I will
have an opportunity to turn out for
one final match at Trent Bridge."
Mick Newell, the Nottinghamshire
director of cricket, said: "I knew that
we were signing a quality player when
Ali became available and although it
was clear that he was in the twilight of
his career, he has made a big
contribution here and will be
remembered for his efforts in helping
to win the Championship last season.
He has an awful lot to offer to the
game and I'm sure his coaching
ambitions will benefit from the
perspectives he has gained
throughout his career."
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