Chris Green flew over to the UK in June to represent Middlesex Cricket Club at the T20 Vitality Blast. Since his time in the UK, Green has worked with Webexpenses as a brand ambassador on and off the pitch. Back in Sydney, Australia, Green plays for local cricket teams including New South Wales, Sydney Thunder in the Big Bash League and Sydney Grade Cricket for Manly Warringah District Cricket Club.
From a young age, Green has had a keen interest and passion for sports; taking part in football, cricket and tennis – to name a few. Since then, his debut at Sydney Thunder’s 2015-16 Big Bash campaign, led Green to excel in his career as a talented short-form cricket player.
Webexpenses sat down with Chris to find out about his time in the UK so far, his childhood dreams, and his advice to kids who aspire to follow in his footsteps in becoming professional sportspeople.
What was your favourite moment during the T20 Vitality Blast?
It is very hard to top my debut (first game) at Lords. It really is spectacular! Playing at the Home of Cricket was everything I could have ever imagined and so much more! Thinking back on that experience makes the hairs stand up on the back of my neck and is something I will cherish for the rest of my career and life. I already can’t wait to go back there again!
What’s your favourite thing about the UK?
Summer in the UK is always such a fantastic vibe. I love seeing everyone out and about enjoying the good weather. It creates a fantastic atmosphere all around the country but particularly in the crowds at cricket games. I love how everyone gets into it, especially when all the singing and dancing commences.
The other part of the UK I love to see is my family. My mum is from the UK (Essex – please don’t judge!) and her side of the family is still out there so it’s really special having the opportunity to play cricket in front of them and spend some quality time off the field.
What’s your favourite food?
I love BBQ’s! Any meat, except seafood (unfortunately I am allergic), I will eat until I burst. I try to make a habit of chasing the sun all year round so it’s always great to fire up the BBQ and have an array of salads on offer. Though, my one true weakness is Mac n Cheese! It is probably the one food I can’t say no to and will continue to eat until every last crumb is gone.
What did you want to be when you were younger?
Ever since I can remember I always wanted to be a professional sportsman. Growing up with parents who both played tennis at Wimbledon, I dreamt of playing tennis at Wimbledon, Cricket at the MCG and Soccer (or football) at Old Trafford. Unfortunately, for soccer, my skills were not good enough to begin on that journey.
Tennis and cricket were a huge part of my childhood with my parents rushing my brother and I between ovals and tennis centres. I had to make a tough call when finishing school as to which avenue I would try to pursue. Would it be a tennis scholarship at a college in the US? Or stay and give cricket a crack whilst studying in Sydney?
Fortunately, a few things went my way and I am very grateful and consider myself incredibly lucky to be living my dream playing cricket and travelling the world.
What advice would you give to kids who want to play professional sports?
The best bit of advice I was given as a kid was, “life is not a race, it’s a journey”. I didn’t really understand what that meant at the time but now I understand that it means to live each day to the fullest, don’t look too far ahead worrying about what may or may not happen and just be where your feet are. In other words: have fun, make mistakes, try new things and don’t take yourself too seriously.
Throughout my childhood, I had so much fun playing sports. Some of my fondest memories today are playing cricket, soccer, tennis or rugby with my mates. So enjoy the journey, embrace the highs and the lows of sport and remember that we are human – we all make mistakes. But, it is those mistakes that will help us learn, grow and shape who and what we become later on in life.
