Pat Brown to leave Worcestershire for Derbyshire

Brown, who has not made a first-class appearance since 2018 but has signed an all-format deal at Derbyshire, initially joined Worcestershire after being spotted at a pace-bowling open day

Pat Brown is set to become the latest player to depart Worcestershire at the end of the season, with the seamer joining Derbyshire.

Brown is in the final year of his contract, having missed much of the last two summers to a string of back problems, and has agreed a three-year deal. The upcoming exits of fellow seamers Dillon Pennington and Josh Tongue were announced last week.

The 24-year-old, who played for England in 2019 as reward for the remarkable T20 Blast form of – at that stage – a relatively unknown youngster, has struggled since but took 24 wickets in this year's campaign as Worcestershire reached the quarter-finals for the first time since finishing as runners-up four years ago.

"I will be forever grateful to Worcestershire for providing me with the opportunities, from the age of 17, that have shaped me into the cricketer and person I am today," he said.

"There have been so many amazing times playing for Worcestershire throughout my seven years as a professional, an obvious highlight being the 2018 Vitality Blast triumph. I would like to extend a huge thank you to all of my teammates, coaches, support staff and members for their unwavering support throughout my time at the club.

^{Brown represented England in 2019 (Kai Schwoerer/Getty Images)}

"It is with a heavy heart that I have taken the decision to leave, but New Road and Worcestershire has forever left its mark on me. I wish the club and everyone involved every success in the future."

Derbyshire head of cricket Mickey Arthur described Brown as "one of the most exciting and skilled bowlers on the county circuit".

Brown, who has not made a first-class appearance since 2018 but has signed an all-format deal at Derbyshire, initially joined Worcestershire after being spotted at a pace-bowling open day, and he was subsequently given a cricket scholarship at the University of Worcester, where he pursued a business management degree alongside his professional career.

Only once has a bowler taken more wickets in a Blast campaign than Brown's 31 in the 2018 summer, which ended with Worcestershire defeating a much-fancied Sussex side at Edgbaston to win the Blast. He then starred once again in the following year, even if they were edged out at the last by Essex, falling one ball short of becoming the first – and only – county to retain the Blast title.

Ashley Giles, Worcestershire's new chief executive, thanked Brown for his "enormous contribution to Worcestershire's victory in the Vitality Blast five years ago".

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