brown made his debut in county cricket for suffolk in a list a match against worcestershire in the 1984 natwest trophy. his early years in county cricket also saw him play minor counties cricket for suffolk, as well as a further list a appearance in the 1985 natwest trophy against lancashire. in 1986 he began studying at cambridge university, where he made his first-class debut against leicestershire. he played first-class cricket only in 1986, making 8 appearances for the university. in his 8 first-class matches for the university, he scored 78 runs at an average of 9.75, with a high score of 30. behind the stumps he took 15 catches and made 2 stumpings. he also played a first-class match for oxford and cambridge universities against the touring new zealanders in 1986. while at cambridge, brown played list a cricket for the combined universities, making 4 appearances for the team in the benson & hedges cup.