Globetrotting Twenty20 gun for hire Chris Green is eying off a belated Sheffield Shield debut after turning down the riches of the Abu Dhabi T10 for the chance to play for NSW.
Green was on Sunday named in the Blues' 13-man squad for their Shield clash against Western Australia at the SCG this week.
At 29, Green has become renowned for his finger spin in T20 cricket, racking up 74 matches for the Sydney Thunder and 164 in franchise cricket worldwide.
Rather than putting money ahead of domestic cricket, Green's decision to play overseas has usually come with being down the pecking order of NSW's spinning options.
But the South African-born Sydney product has long kept the dream of playing for NSW alive.
He took 4-20 in his first one-day game for NSW in more than four years last week, with Nathan Lyon and Adam Zampa on international duties and Tanveer Sangha injured.
He is now one of two uncapped spinners named in NSW's squad alongside Toby Gray, significantly enhancing his chances of a debut on a spinning wicket.
It was for that reason Green opted against playing in the T10 league this year, after being told by the Blues he could be in their plans.
"It was an easy decision for me cricket wise," Green told AAP.
"I have never played a first-class fixture. I am one who always wants to test my skills. And then in that arena, particularly from the mental side of things.
"When I first started playing cricket I didn't even know about the T20 realm.
"The pathways was to play for NSW and Australia. I guess I have gone in a non-traditional route to get there."
Green is also confident he will have no issue adapting to longer spells and the red ball, making them the foundation of initial work he does with bowling coach Anthony Clark whenever he returns home.
And while he has never played a professional long-form match, he spent part of the winter training with Middlesex and played club cricket in England when the Sri Lanka Premier League was postponed.
"Even from a pure bowling standpoint, the more I improve my stock ball for red ball, the better I find I can bowl and adapt in shorter-form cricket," Green said.
"(In England) it was just working on my stock ball which was preparing me well for the Caribbean Premier League.
"Bowling for a long period of time and bowling boring helped.
"And then every time I come back from overseas I work with Clarky on the basics, making sure my technique and my stock ball is good."
