Sydney: Australian all-rounder Dan Christian has signed on a two-year-deal with Sydney Sixers. The former Melbourne Renegades star is an important addition to the side in a bid to win the Big Bash League title this season. 14 years ago, Christian had made his debut for New South Wales and his comeback to the Sydney spots a full circle for his long and growing career. Overall, Sixers will be his fourth BBL club and his 17th T20 franchise.
“You don’t always get your fairy tales in sport but having played this T20 format for a long time this sounded like a good opportunity to bookend my career at home,” Christian said. “Although I am not saying this will definitely be my last contract, the chance to come back and play at the SCG with guys like Moises Henriques and under head coach Greg Shipperd was too good to miss.”
🎥 Want to know why @danchristian54 is one of the world's elite T20 cricketers …
— Sydney Sixers (@SixersBBL) September 18, 2020
His @BBL highlights tell the story!! ⬇️ 🙌
Welcome to the Sixers, Dan! 🤜🤛
#smashemsixers #BBL10 pic.twitter.com/a0VrVXzyN4
“Moises and I first played some colts cricket together and then went on to play together for NSW, Australia and Bangalore in the IPL. We’ve known each other for a really long time and are great mates. We have played a lot of cricket together and against each other and played a lot of golf together. We still try to whenever we are in the same city,” he further added.
Christian expressed he hasn’t spoken to the captain and the coach yet but expects to don the all-rounder and finisher’s role he’s so masterfully played over the years. “I haven’t talked to Shippy and Moises too much about a role yet but having watched the Sixers a lot over the last few years and understanding their strengths, I hope I can bowl a few overs when needed and strengthen that finishing role with the bat to help close those last 5 or 6 overs out,” he added.
“Once you get to my age it just happens being in that mentoring role, being approached about how you think in certain situations, how you plan for certain scenarios. I enjoy that and if that opportunity happens I’m more than willing to contribute what I can in that area.”
Head coach Shipperd was delighted at the signing of Christian. “I’m thrilled that we could add Dan to our championship-winning squad. He’s one of the most sought after T20 players globally and will bring a wealth of experience and all-round skills to our group. Our goal is to keep improving and we think bringing his aggression and knowledge will be great for the balance of the team,” said Shipperd.
“Dan also adds to our leadership strengths and I’m confident he will bring forward some enlightening thoughts on the game.”
The squad: Moises Henriques (C), Sean Abbott, Jackson Bird, Dan Christian, Tom Curran, Ben Dwarshuis, Jack Edwards, Mickey Edwards, Stephen O’Keefe, Josh Philippe, Lloyd Pope, Jordan Silk, Daniel Hughes, Hayden Kerr, Nathan Lyon, Ben Manent.
