Christian thrilled to don Indigenous kit for Sixers

The Sydney Sixers will wear an Indigenous jersey for the first time in a KFC BBL match when they take on the Hobart Hurricanes tonight (Saturday), with veteran allrounder Dan Christian saying he would’ve loved to have done so earlier in his career.

Christian, a Wiradjuri man and one of the competition’s most accomplished players, said it was important the conversations around Indigenous culture were being had in cricket and that initiatives like these were important symbols of progress. 

“We’re heading in a really good direction," Christian said. "I grew up knowing everything about our culture and where my family was from."

“Being a part of the Sixers and being able to wear an Indigenous shirt, the whole family will be really proud.”

The BBL will celebrate Indigenous round next month, however the Sixers will be in Coffs Harbour during that week, so took it upon themselves to wear their new strip in a home game at the SCG.

The shirt was unveiled by the Sixers’ WBBL side earlier this year, and just like the women’s team, the men will gather barefoot and form a circle a day before the game to acknowledge the land they are playing on. 

Christian and Weber WBBL star Ashleigh Gardner, a Muruwari woman, helped designed the playing kit, which features a goanna totem representing Gardner’s family and three rivers on the back of the jersey to acknowledge Christian’s mob.

“We were hoping to have one last year, but we finally get it this year, and it looks fantastic,” he said. 

Christian hoped players such as himself could serve as role models for young Indigenous kids wanting to play cricket, and said it was important to keep promoting cricket as an accessible game for everyone.

“The best thing about having an Indigenous round is opening up cricket and presenting it to the wider Indigenous community,” he said. 

“We see it in the NRL and AFL … it’s just an awesome week in both those codes and everyone gets around (Indigenous Round).

“I think it’s great cricket is finally getting around it and the official Indigenous round that we have in January will be a fantastic week.”

It will be a big occasion for the Sixers on Saturday, who will be looking to maintain their perfect start to BBL|11, with opening batter Josh Philippe bringing up his 50th match in the magenta and opening bowler Ben Dwarshuis returning to the squad after recovering from a minor side strain. 

The Hurricanes are seeking revenge on the Sixers, after squandering a golden opportunity to begin their BBL campaign on a high in their loss earlier in the week. 

They have made one change to their 15-player squad from their first game, with English import Jordan Thompson replacing Jordan Cox, having completed his period of isolation from the team after being a close contact of a positive case of COVID-19 in Melbourne last week. 

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