In the final eight matches of the 2019-2020 Big Bash League, Pat Brown, who made his England T20I debut against New Zealand on Friday, signed up with the Melbourne Stars. The right-arm pacer will replace Dale Steyn, who signed in February against England for the first six games, keeping in mind the limited-over matches at home.

21-year-old Brown took 49 wickets for Worcestershire at 19.63 in the T20I Vitality Blast with an economy rate of 8.15. In 2018, he helped the club win their first T20I title and they finished as runners-up in 2019.

Brown, speaking to the Worcestershire website, said “I’ve signed for the Melbourne Stars and I’m going to be going over there for Christmas and playing in the Big Bash. I’ve signed for the last eight games, replacing Dale Steyn, an absolute legend, so no big shoes to fill there then.”

He added, “It’s going to be nice to test and challenge me in different conditions against different players and as an overseas player. I will go out fairly early, a couple of weeks early, to get bedded in and trained up ready.”

Brown will play alongside Nathan Coulter-Nile and Lance Morris at the club. His first game will be against Sydney Thunder on January 8.