Former Kent and England bowler Alan Brown dies aged 90

Alan Brown, the former Kent and England fast bowler whose county career ended in a championship-winning season, has died aged 90. BBC Sport reported his death on Friday. Brown took 707 first-class wickets in 237 appearances for Kent between 1957 and 1970 and stands 17th among the county's leading men's first-class wicket-takers.

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His last season brought Kent their first County Championship title for 57 years. Brown also represented England in two Tests after selection for the 1961 tour of India and Pakistan, appearing once in each country. His international appearances accompanied a much longer career in county cricket.

Kent's tribute traced his route into the game from a mining background in Rainworth, near Mansfield. National Service brought him to Gravesend in 1954, where he played for Imperial Paper Mills. After coaching at Eltham, a trial at Canterbury helped secure his move to Kent, with Colin Cowdrey and Les Ames requesting his release from Nottinghamshire.

Brown began his Kent career in the second team in May 1957, taking five wickets at Lord's before earning promotion against Cambridge University. According to the club's account, his most productive season followed in 1965: he claimed 116 wickets at an average of 19.04 after returning from an injury-disrupted 1964 campaign. That haul included seven for 45 against Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge.

Kent noted that Brown did not play in the Surrey match that secured the 1970 championship, although he appeared in the squad's celebratory photograph at the Oval. His final first-class appearance came during Canterbury Cricket Week, followed by a last Sunday League outing at Bournemouth in September. Brown and David Sayer received a joint testimonial the following year.

Alongside cricket, Brown played non-league football for several Kent clubs. BBC Sport recalled that he joined Gravesend and Northfleet in 1957 after interest from Arsenal and Gillingham. Switching from centre-half to centre-forward, he scored 22 goals in 43 appearances across four seasons. His other clubs included Margate, Canterbury City, Deal Town and Whitstable Town.