Cricket success stories

Tom Crosse

“To spend six months living in Melbourne and playing cricket was an unbelievable experience.”

During his gap year Tom played cricket in Australia with Sport Lived, before studying for a BA in sport at Durham University. Since then, he has more than ten years of experience in marketing for the sports industry, working at Leicester City FC, Lord’s Cricket Ground and currently as the Team Marketing Manager for The Hundred, at the England & Wales Cricket Board.

Steven Green

“The Sport Lived programme developed me as a cricketer and as a person.”

Steven played cricket in Melbourne with Sport Lived during his gap year before studying at Oxford University. He went on to play for the Oxford MCCU where he made his first-class debut and played against county teams such as Kent and Somerset. One of his career highlights was winning at Lord’s Cricket Ground in the Universities Challenge final and being named Man of the Match.

Tom Parfett

“I had an incredible time in Melbourne playing cricket, coaching at a great school and living in a stunning part of the city.”

While at King’s School Macclesfield Tom served as First XI Cricket Captain, gained colours for rugby, and even stayed on to coach younger pupils after officially leaving school. He also played for Macclesfield CC in the Cheshire Premier League and for the county’s youth team. It was no surprise then that Tom decided to take a sporting gap year, taking part in a Sport Lived cricket programme in Melbourne, both playing and coaching. He then went on to study for a degree in French at Bangor University. Since graduating, Tom has pursued his love of sport, initially as an ECB Level 2 cricket coach, and then in the sports travel industry. He currently works as a Sports Tour Consultant with GB Sports Tours.

Harry Bush

“My Sport Lived experience was fantastic. I came back a completely different player.”

Harry played cricket with Sport Lived in Australia before studying at Leeds University. Between 2009 and 2012 he played Second XI cricket with Durham, Leicestershire and Kent. Since then Harry has worked in finance, and is now UK Sales Director at Nuveen.

Craig Stow

“The Sport Lived programme was an amazing experience.”

Craig was born in Zimbabwe, grew up in Zambia and was educated in South Africa, and grabbed the opportunity to play cricket wherever and whenever possible! after finishing school, he took part in a Sport Lived cricket programme with a leading cricket club in Melbourne. Having built a reputation as a talented seam bowling all-rounder during his time in Australia, Craig then played as the overseas professional at two clubs in the UK, Ashton-on-Mersey in Chester and Hythe and Dibden in Hampshire. He since qualified as an ECB Level 2 Coach and is currently working as a coach, including as youth coach with Redmarley CC, Gloucestershire.

Rick Moore

“Do it, and make the most of every opportunity available to you.”

After playing for Lancashire CCC Academy as a junior Rick chose to do a Sport Lived cricket programme in Melbourne on his gap year before studying at Leeds Metropolitan University. Rick played two first class matches for the Leeds/Bradford MCCU against Surrey and Yorkshire and subsequently played over 40 minor counties matches with Cheshire. He currently plays for Chester Broughton Hall CC in the Cheshire ECB Premier League and is Vice Captain of their 1st XI.

Max Latchmore

“Sport Lived was a great way to go abroad to do something completely different.”

Max played cricket with Sport Lived in Melbourne after finishing his degree at Nottingham University. He went on to train as a solicitor at Bird & Bird and is currently Legal Counsel at Octopus Energy. In his role as a solicitor, he’s particularly proud to have represented the International Cricket Council in a ball tampering case.

Ed Belger

“I didn’t just improve my coaching and playing ability but also learnt to adapt to different situations and environments.”

After completing a BTEC in Sports Studies, Ed took part in not one, but three Sport Lived cricket programmes! Having played a season with a leading club in Melbourne, he then coached at various schools in the city, including Camberwell Grammar School. Ed continued to coach on his return to the UK at Downend CC and went on to become Head of Cricket at Twenty20 Community Cricket in Surrey, where he also qualified as an ECB Level 3 Coach. Ed currently works as a Community Coach for the Surrey Cricket Foundation and as an age group coach with Hampshire CCC.