H Gill: Courtney Browne - Back in the Pink (10 Aug 1998)

10 August 1998

Courtney Browne - Back in the Pink

by Haydn Gill

Courtney Browne is a changed man these days.

Fourteen months ago, he was in the West Indies team facing increasing pressure brought about by a shortage of confidence in a personally dismal series against Sri Lanka. He performed so poorly with the bat that he was out for a duck in three of his four innings.

Nowadays, however, even the way he walks to the crease tells you that he is in the best form of his life.

Browne has had a dream start to the 1998 Courts/Suzuki Division 1 championship.

On the opening day he hit a century against Pickwick. He followed up with another against BCL and notched up two half-centuries off defending champions St. Catherine in the latest round of matches.

It has all added up to an impressive tally of 370 runs at an average of 74 an innings.

When asked what was responsible for such a staggering comeback, Browne's response was short, but, to the point.

"I think it is a lot of practice. I practise every day on my batting," he told NATIONSPORT. "It is also a lot of dedication too."

Assistance from his long-time friend Stephen Brathwaite has also been crucial, he said.

In trying to regain a place in the Barbados and West Indies teams, wicketkeeper Browne has spoken loudly with the bat.

But he's being cautious over the possibility of an imminent recall, and has just one thing on his mind.

"I just want to have a good First Division season and take things from there. That's my goal at the moment: to score as many runs as I can score in First Division cricket," he said.

"Whatever comes, I'll try to grab it with both hands and go forward from there."

Browne was at his commanding best on Saturday at Bayfield. When one considers that he had to crawl out of bed with the flu, his hurricane 67 off 48 balls speaks volumes.

Victor Skeete and Brian Shepherd had orchestrated a collapse in which five wickets fell for 25 when Browne stepped in and stopped the rot.

Skeete and Shepherd were keen on hammering in the ball, but Browne was just as enthusiastic in attempting his hooks and pulls, a sign of a confident man.

There was, however, another source of motivation.

"I was feeling weak, but after I went to the crease and the St. Catherine bowlers started to jeer and say all sorts of foolishness, that is what motivated me to have a good innings," he said.

By the time he was finished, he had counted four sixes - three from either pulls or hooks and the other lifted over long-on - and five fours in a stand of 81 with Ian Bradshaw.

The latter's contribution was a mere 13, an indication of Browne's dominance.

The match against St. Catherine ended in a draw, a disappointment to Browne, who has set high goals for BET this season.

"I expect BET to come in the first three."

Source :: The Barbados Nation (https://www.nationnews.com/)