SHE’S played in front of 14,000 strong crowds at Etihad Stadium and the MCG, appeared on Channel Ten’s The Project, lists Brad Hogg as a ‘good mate’ and also played some pretty good cricket.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
It’s been a massive few months for Wingham cricketer Maitlan Brown, who has just completed her debut season in the Women’s Big League Bash (WBBL) with the Melbourne Renegades. Brown, 19, was player of the match in Melbourne’s win over the Sydney Sixes in the second last game with she hit 30 off 15 deliveries, including 14 from the last three, to clinch the victory. Earlier she claimed 1/21 from four overs.
The Renegades had an improved campaign from the inaugural WBBL, where they finished at the foot of the table.
“But we were inconsistent,’’ Brown said.
“We’re still a young team and we learnt a lot. We’re building a strong culture at the Renegades.’’
Brown said it didn’t take her long to adapt to the competition.
“I've played in the Sydney first grade for the last couple of years against a lot of the players in the WBBL, so it wasn’t too difficult,’’ she explained.
Living in Melbourne was ‘a chill’ she said.
“The Renegades really looked after us,’’ Brown said.
“We even got tickets to go to the Australian Open. I love Melbourne – probably more than Sydney. It’s an easy place to get around and a really good city.’’
Brown recalls early in her stay going to the gym at the same time as fellow Renegade and BBL cult hero Brad Hogg, the former test spin bowler.
“I thought ‘wow, there’s Hoggie’. In the end we became good friends,’’ Brown said, adding there’s plenty of interaction between the Renegades’ WBBL and BBL franchises.
Brown also appeared on Ten’s The Project as part of a promotion for the WBBL.
Brown enjoyed the travel involved, playing matches around the country. That was part of the experience. The Renegades also played in Sydney on three occasions.
Talented siblings: Maitlan Brown with younger brother, Reid, after he was named the Manning River Times-Ken McDonald Memorial Sportstar of the Year winner for 2016 at the Australia Day celebrations last week.
IMAGE
“That was good because I got to see my family and friends,’’ Brown said.
However, there was one downside
“I hate flying,’’ she said, managing a smile.
“I was pleased I didn’t have to go to Perth.’’
She said a match in Brisbane played in heatwave temperatures was ‘outrageous.’
“It was boiling – I’m sure I had heat stroke,’’ Brown added.
She was signed by the Renegades as a bowler who could bat a bit. She didn’t get many opportunities with the bat early.
"Then we lost a game at Etihad and I was really frustrated.
Brown was middling the ball pretty regularly, perhaps showing that a bit of frustration isn’t a bad thing.
“I was seriously belting them and. One of our players suggested to the coach that I might make a good pinch hitter,’’ Brown explained.
Brown will have other cricketering commitments to fulfill in the next couple of months but will start university in the second semester.
She’s hoping her performances this summer will have her on the radar for higher honours.
Brown’s already looking at WBBL (3) which promises to be even bigger following on the success of the second installment.
She said ‘negotiations are continuing’ with the Renegades regarding 2017/18 and hopes this will be sorted soon. Brown’s enjoyed her first taste of the big time. Now she wants to be part of it for a long time.