Australian white-ball star Chris Green knocks back NSW contract to become a freelance cricketer

Just days out from the start of the domestic cricket season, NSW have been hit with the news that one of their high-profile stars wants his state contract torn up.

Chris Green is the latest Australian white-ball specialist to pursue life as a freelancer, with the spinning all-rounder set to hand back his state contract just days out from the start of the domestic season.

Green is in advanced discussions with Cricket NSW to move off the Blues’ list to allow him greater flexibility to play on the short-form circuit.

The 30-year-old is currently in the West Indies where he is leading the Antigua and Barbuda Falcons of the Carribean Premier League.

The off-spinner will however remain eligible to play for NSW when his schedule permits.

It is a fresh twist in an unconventional career for the tweaker who only earned his first state contract at 29 on the back of a stellar entrance into the Sheffield Shield across the 2022-23 season.

Chris Green is hoping to go down the freelance cricket path. Picture: Getty

He has an exceptional first-class record, albeit from a limited sample size, averaging more than 45 with the bat and 27.02 with the ball.

Green, who captained the Big Bash League’s Sydney Thunder last season, played one Twenty20 international for Australia against India last December, taking 0-36 from four overs and making an unbeaten two.

The Blues face WA on Sunday in Sydney in a one-dayer to open the domestic season. It’s understood Nathan Lyon is unlikely to play one-dayers this season as he focuses on first-class cricket ahead of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy Series.

Without Green, Lyon and Adam Zampa (international duties), emerging leg-spinner Tanveer Sangha, another on the edges of the Australian white-ball setup, will serve as the primary spinner.

Green has a small body of work, but an impressive record at Shield level. Picture: Getty

Green joins a growing list of fringe Australian white-ball players to opt out of state contracts without officially retiring from domestic cricket.

West Australian quartet Marcus Stoinis, Ashton Agar, Andrew Tye and Jason Behrendorff all moved off the WA list at the end of last season, providing greater freedom to play in various overseas leagues that overlap with the Aussie domestic season.

Tye – the leading wicket-taker in men’s one-day domestic cricket last season – had a request to play in the UAE’s ILT20 league knocked back by WA.

All-rounder Daniel Sams last year opted out of a state deal with NSW, while international veterans David Warner and Matthew Wade have also chosen the freelance route.

Originally published as Australian white-ball star Chris Green knocks back NSW contract to become a freelance cricketer