But she isn’t assured of a place in Australia’s starting XI with Meg Lanning likely to choose between her and a spinner at Basin Reserve
Brown’s last wicket left New Zealand 35 for 5 and Australia eventually scripted to a 141-run win – their second-biggest-ever win margin in ODIs over New Zealand.
“During the Pakistan match, I had a bit of a bowl, a bit of a trundle with Ben Sawyer, our bowling coach,” she said. “He helped me with a few tips and cues to bowl to try and go a bit fuller, and, I guess, swing it a bit more… that put me in good stead for that New Zealand match.”
Even Brown was surprised. “I felt like I was in pretty good control with the ball. I don’t usually feel like that,” she said. “It’s probably up there with how I felt with control and rhythm and, I guess, pace.”
“I want to play every single game. But with the path of young fast bowlers there’s been a fair few injuries. When management say I need a rest you’ve just got to trust them and know it’s in your best interest”
Darcie Brown
Next up are West Indies, who have beaten New Zealand and England, but arrive at Basin Reserve off a big loss to India.
“It’d be an awesome challenge. We played against them in a practice match, and [Deandra Dottin] whacked me around a little bit,” she said.
“We had a really tough selection… JJ missed out and she’s a world-class bowler, and has done extremely well for us for a long time,” Lanning said. “We felt that extra pace option was the way to go. It worked today but on another day it might not.”
Brown said she would understand whichever way the call went. “I want to play every single game,” she said. “But with the path of young fast bowlers there’s been a fair few injuries. When management say I need a rest you’ve just got to trust them and know it’s in your best interest.”