knox grammar school

Knox has been an incubator for cricketers who have made their game of choice into a career – two of them wearing an international cap.

Chris Green (OKG11)

When he received the call in November 2023 that he would play in the fourth game in Australia’s T20 series with India, Chris Green became our most recent Old Boy to hit the world stage.

While the Sydney Thunder captain has played professionally in Europe, the Middle East, the Caribbean, South America and Canada, he says it all started at Curagul.

During his time at Knox Chris captained the 1st XI, was selected for the CAS 2nd, CAS North Harbour, NSW School Championships and Cricket NSW Schoolboys teams.

"I've got so many personal memories and milestones that I enjoyed [at Curagul]," he says.

"Very cherished memories…a beautiful venue with a lot of history about it."

He continues: "The inspiring thing straight away, when you start playing for the 1st XI and playing [at] Curagul, [is] as you walk into the lunch room and tea room and look up at the board and see who's scored hundreds, and taken fifers.

Matthew Nicholson (OKG92)

Matthew Nicholson rattled the visiting English team in 1998 during his debut Test appearance – Boxing day of the fourth Ashes test – by taking four wickets.

While at Knox, 'Nicho' captained the 1st XI (1992) and was selected for the CAS 1st XI, NSW CAS Under-17 and NSW Schoolboys Cricket teams.

His first appearance in the Knox 1st XI came as early as Year 9.

"I remember I was playing touch footy down on the basketball court, down the back of the PE Centre one lunchtime and I was told to come to go see the Cricket 1st XI coach," he recalls.

"I said, 'What are you talking about?’ I was a little Year 9 kid…anyway, marched into the office. Apparently someone was injured and I would be playing in the 1st XI that week.

"So that’s how I came on the scene. I played in the 1st XI, I think it was against Barker actually out here on Knox 1. Had a good season – bowled fast, took lots of wickets and ended up in the CAS 1st XI team."

Matthew attended the Cricket Academy in 1993-1994 and since then has worked as a professional player, selector and coach.

He says the foundation laid at Knox set him up for a successful sporting career.

"Forget about the game for a second, it was all about the people and the time and effort that they invested in me and how much that meant to me as a young man coming through. And that's really shaped and formed the way I relate to players that I coach, even my own sons at times, my own kids.

"Sometimes it's not forgetting how important your role is as a mentor or as a coach or as a senior figure in a cricket club, or in a family even. I think that's really what I learned from Knox Cricket and from life at Knox.

"Beyond hitting a cover drive and bowling an out-swinger, that's probably not as important, but that really was just around people and relationships and how important that is to me. To be responsible for the position that you hold."

These interviews were conducted by the Knox Heritage Centre, and Bruce Wood OAM (OKG74) as part of the School's Oral History program.