Alan Brown Cricketer
Alan Brown is a former English cricketer who played in two Tests in 1961. A genuine fast bowler in his youth, he went on the 1961/1962 tour to India, Pakistan and Ceylon, when the regular England pace attack declined to tour, but found the wickets too flat for his style of bowling. He took 3 for 27 in Pakistan's second innings on his debut as England ran out winners by five wickets, but went wicketless in the draw against India in Bombay. Brown was a powerful and popular opening bowler with honest endeavour. Bowling with a drag more suited to the back foot no ball rule, he led Kent's attack for a decade although his pace declined with age. His most successful season came in 1965, when he claimed 119 wickets at 19.04, but further England honours eluded him. A hard hitting tail end batsman, he scored three fifties with a best of 81. He retired in 1970, with 743 first-class wickets under his belt at under 25 apiece. A talented all round sportsman, he also played football as a centre-forward for Gravesend & Northfleet F.C.