Dan Christian After the current Big Bash League (BBL) season, veteran Australian all-rounder Daniel Christian of the Sydney Sixers has declared his retirement from all forms of cricket. Before hanging up his cleats, the 39-year-old hopes to win the BBL championship with the Sixers.
Christian made his first T20 appearance in 2006 and has since played franchise cricket all over the world. In the Big Bash League, the veteran cricketer has played for the Melbourne Renegades and Sixers. He joined the Sydney-based franchise in 2020 and has 26 kills in 45 games.
Christian, who has represented Australia in 23 T20Is and 20 ODIs, has also amassed 609 runs for the Sixers at a strike rate of 144.31. In a statement on his official Twitter account, he claimed to have made several memories that he will cherish for the rest of his life, stating:
“Yesterday at training, I told my Sydney Sixers teammates that I’ll be retiring from playing at the end of the BBL season. Sydney smash tonight, followed by our Hurricanes, and then the finals. Hopefully, we can go all the way again this season, but regardless, it’s been great run. I’ve achieved things and made some memories that I could have only dreamt as a kid.”
“What I didn’t expect to learn as a kid though, is how many people I was going to come in contact with that have had an influence on my career and ended up becoming lifelong friends. I’m looking forward to now having the time to catch up with you all and not having to use the excuse “Sorry, I’ve got cricket”. I’ll reserve my thank yous for the last time (whenever that may be), but in the meantime, go the Sixers.”
The New South Wales-born all-rounder has also represented the Delhi Daredevils (now Delhi Capitals), Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), and the now-defunct Rising Pune Supergiants in the Indian Premier League (IPL).
Christian was signed by RCB for 4.8 crore ahead of the IPL 2021 season and played nine games before being released ahead of the next edition.
Meanwhile, the Sixers are second in the current BBL standings, having won eight of their 12 games. On the strength of Steve Smith’s century, the three-time champions defeated the Adelaide Strikers by 59 runs in their most recent match.
They will play the Sydney Thunder next on Saturday, January 21, and a win would guarantee a semi-final berth.
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