Dream of representing Australia ‘still alive’ for 37-year-old Christian

02/08/2021

Dan Christian says he has not given up on his dream of representing Australia after leading the Sydney Sixers to victory in the BBL final at the SCG on Saturday night.

The 37-year-old has won three BBL titles at three different clubs, with the most recent victory also marking his ninth win in T20 competitions across the world.

Dan Christian has not given up on his dream of representing Australia.Credit:Getty

The squad for the five-match T20 series against New Zealand has already left for the tournament, with the T20 World Cup scheduled for India in October 2021.

Christian, who has played for 17 T20 franchises, will be 38 by then but believes he did enough during the BBL season to prove himself to selectors.

“Of course it’s still alive,” he said of his dream to represent Australia. “I feel like I’ve been in good enough nick throughout the BBL to keep my name in front of the selectors.

“Contributing to wins I think is one of the most important qualities you can have as a player, and I feel like I’ve done that this season, and I feel like I could still do that in the Australian T20 team as well.”

Dan Christian’s T20 final wins

2010 – England T20, Hampshire v Somerset
2011 – Big Bash, South Australia v NSW
2013 – BBL|02, Brisbane Heat v Perth Scorchers
2017 – T20 Blast, Notts v Birmingham
2017 – CPL, Trinbago v St Kitts
2018 – SA Super League, Jozi Stars v Cape Town Blitz
2019 – BBL|08, Melbourne Renegades v Melbourne Stars
2020 – T20 Blast, Notts v Surrey
2021 – BBL|10, Sydney Sixers v Perth Scorchers

Christian made headlines last month after blasting Prime Minister Scott Morrison. The Indigenous cricketer told Morrison to “read the room” when the PM criticised Cricket Australia’s decision to drop the term Australia Day from its BBL promotions.

“There’ll be millions of kids watching our @BBL games on the 26th January, and they’ll see us taking a knee against racism, and promoting inclusion for all. Take note,” he wrote on social media.

It made Christian one of the most talked-about names in the BBL, and his on-field performances continued to shine.

Sixers captain Moises Henriques backed Christian’s dream of playing in the World Cup, saying age was irrelevant. He said Christian was “forgotten” during his time with the Melbourne Renegades in the previous two BBL seasons but that the Sixers had made the most of his leadership.

“The way that he’s playing at the moment, contributing in almost every game that he plays in … age is just a number,” Henriques said.

“I think Daniel is playing as good cricket as he ever has … so it’d be silly to say not to consider him if he’s still just achieving some of his best stuff now.”

Christian, who grew up in the Riverina region of NSW before moving to Sydney for high school, said the Sixers’ win felt particularly special amid so many previous T20 successes.

“The great thing about this one for me was the opportunity to come home and play at the SCG,” he said. “Being able to lift the trophy there, after a season where it looked like we wouldn’t have been able to play a game there at all, it felt like a bit of a fairytale finish.”

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