JAMAICA’S premier leg-spinner Odean Brown is back in the island after his commendable run in the West Indies ‘A’ team was curtailed due to what he described as an “irregular heartbeat”.

Brown told the Observer that results from medical tests done in England led the WICB to replace him with Trinidad and Tobago spinner Imran Khan.

“It’s an irregular heartbeat that makes the heart race at times. I’ve known about it (the heart condition) for some time and when I did the tests in England, the doctor told me he saw some abnormalities. The West Indies Cricket Board decided it would be much better if I came back home,” he said, noting that follow-up tests will be done later this week.

Before the West Indies Cricket Board’s decision, the 28-year-old had taken eight wickets at an average of 20.37 to help the regional ‘A’ team to a one-nil victory in the two unofficial ‘Test’ matches against their Bangladeshi counterparts in May.

Brown said he had to adapt to conditions quickly in the Asian country.

“It was very humid right through and the wickets are a bit slow and sometimes low but they (the pitches) took some spin. It’s just that they are on the slow side and you have to adjust but even then, I enjoyed the experience,” he said.

“I’m a bowler who would push the ball through a bit quickly sometimes. On that pitch my pace is just the right pace so I didn’t have to make too much adjustment,” Brown continued.

He followed up that performance with five for 92 in a drawn warm-up game against Glamorgan earlier this month in England, while the team prepared for Tests versus India ‘A’.

Said Brown: “At first it was difficult in England because it was cold and we had to get acclimatised so that was a challenge. It is even more difficult for a spinner than perhaps a fastbowler because we use our fingers more.”

Brown, who made his first-class debut in 2003-2004, enjoyed good returns during the 2008-2009 extended regional domestic four-day tournament. He took 52 wickets in 12 matches at a tidy average of 21.98 to help Jamaica to their second consecutive title.

Despite a shortened 2009-2010 season, Brown was again the top wicket-taker for Jamaica as he took 30 scalps in six matches at 22.26 to help Jamaica to three straight championships.

The right-hand spinner has snared 148 wickets at 22.53 in 38 first-class matches.

He emphasised his intent on keeping in shape by turning out to represent local club team, St Catherine Saints, in their Super Cricket League match versus Kingston Tigers at Chedwin Park, just two days after returning from England.

He finished with match figures of nine for 69 to lead St Catherine to an easy 10- wicket victory.