Christian calls time on decorated Blast career

Australian journeyman Dan Christian has announced his retirement from his 'home' T20 club, with this T20 Blast season to be his last with Nottinghamshire.

Despite his exploits around the world with 19 different T20 teams, Trent Bridge has been the place Christian has called home the most, with 86 games for Notts Outlaws across seven seasons.

The announcement sets up a potential Big Bash swansong for the 39-year-old allrounder, who has one season remaining on his current three-year deal with Sydney Sixers, although he has given no indication yet that this summer will be his last in the KFC BBL.

Christian, who welcomed his first child – a daughter, Harper – with partner Jorgia Dunn last December, joined Notts in 2015 after three seasons in the T20 Blast competition with Hampshire, Gloucestershire and Middlesex.

He is the only man to have captained the Outlaws to T20 glory, having lifted the trophy in 2017 and 2020, while delivering player-of-the-match performances in the 2020 semi-final (30 off 13) and final (21no off 11 and 4-23).

He also scored Notts' quickest T20 century (and the second fastest by an Australian) with a 37-ball effort against Northamptonshire Steelbacks in 2018.

Image Id: 4710E6DCDDCC4F06ACD94B0076C38B50 Image Caption: Christian has captained Notts to T20 glory twice // Getty

His 16-ball 50 for Notts against Leicestershire in 2016 was the quickest by an Australian until Christian himself bettered that (15 balls) for the Sixers in 2020, and then Pat Cummins lowered the mark to 14 balls during this year's Indian Premier League.

"This is well and truly home for me and a place that I'll always look back really fondly of," Christian said.

"It's just been a really accommodating place for me over the years and more recently my family as well.

"I've played more games for Notts than any other team, comfortably by almost 60 games.

"(Trent Bridge) is the best ground to play white-ball cricket in the world … I love it here, the crowd is fantastic, the wicket is always fantastic, the outfield is fast, always high-scoring games and plenty of entertainment.

"The success we've had here has been really rewarding … it'll be the lifelong friendships (I remember most) of the people I've played with over the years of being here and as part of those friendships you look back on your victories and the trophies you've lifted."

Notts Director of Cricket Mick Newell, who brought Christian to Trent Bridge, said it was difficult to overstate the impact he has had on their T20 side, especially since taking over as captain in 2016.

"We knew we were signing a player of considerable skill – and we knew that his aggressive style of cricket would see him fit in straight away – but his ability as a leader has made a huge impact on so many of his teammates," Newell said.

"He's one of those players who senses when a game is there for the taking and gave us the extra edge that turned us into a trophy-winning team after so many near misses."

Image Id: 2C67FB4EE9A547B38B460A925FC6C369 Image Caption: Christian celebrates his 37-ball ton in 2018 // Getty

Christian accumulated 1715 runs with a top score of 113 not out and took 48 wickets during his seven seasons with Notts, and is currently their fifth-highest run-scorer and eighth-highest wicket-taker of all-time.

He also made 15 List A and three first-class appearances for the club.

Notts sit seventh on the North Group table with two games remaining and are unlikely to make the finals, with Christian to play his last game at Trent Bridge tonight against Durham.

Australians in 2022 English T20 Blast

Birmingham: Nathan McAndrew

Derbyshire: Hayden Kerr

Durham: Ashton Turner, Andrew Tye

Essex: Daniel Sams

Glamorgan: Marnus Labuschagne, Michael Neser

Gloucestershire: Marcus Harris

Hampshire: Nathan Ellis, Ben McDermott

Lancashire: Tim David

Middlesex: Jason Behrendorff, Chris Green

Northamptonshire: Matthew Kelly, Chris Lynn

Nottinghamshire: Dan Christian, James Pattinson

Somerset: Peter Siddle

Sussex: Josh Philippe