After playing in the Second XI for two years, Brian Jackson made his first-class debut in the 1963 season against Somerset in May, though he was absent hurt in the match.
In the 1964 season, with 79 Championship wickets Brian Jackson was by far the best bowler in the team and critics were impressed by his workrate although his average of 23.59 suggested Derbyshire was losing its traditional strength in pace bowling.
[5] However, the 1965 season saw Brian Jackson advance remarkably to form with Harold Rhodes an immensely powerful opening attack: the two bowlers were first and second in the national averages.
Although with his weakness as a batsman Brian Jackson had not been considered for the 1965 Tests against New Zealand and South Africa, an immense amount was expected of him even at thirty-three (a time when most pace bowlers begin to decline).
After a poor performance in the 1968 season, Brian Jackson was not re-engaged for 1969, but he did play along with Leslie and Cliff Gladwin in a limited overs match to commemorate the centenary of the Derbyshire county club.