Indigenous art adds to Dan's Bash blade

Dan Christian was in typically match-winning touch again on Monday night but there was something different about the evergreen Renegade's weapon of choice against the Hurricanes at Marvel Stadium.

Christian was proudly sporting a new Kookaburra blade adorned with the artwork of Indigenous artist Emma MacNeill – a touch he initiated with the hope of continuing to promote cricket within the Indigenous community.

Wielding his new bat, the 35-year-old smashed a quick-fire 25no from 13 balls – including two fours and two sixes – to get his Melbourne team home against a hitherto unbeaten Hobart side.

Christian had noticed Indigenous artwork being represented in the AFL and made some enquiries, which led him to the brush of MacNeill.

"I think it looks fantastic, I'm really proud of it," he told cricket.com.au. "I got in touch with (MacNeill) – she's done a bit of work for the Brisbane Lions, and done their Indigenous jersey in the past, and she's also painted quite a few guys' boots for the Indigenous round in the AFL as well.

"So when I saw her work, I got in touch and asked if she was interested in doing a bat, and she was really keen.

"So that worked out really well, and Kookaburra were keen to jump on it as well.

"It's something I've been pretty keen to have done for a while.

"I'm pretty proud of my heritage, so it's nice to be able to reflect that in some small way."

Christian made good use of the Indigenous-stickered bat on Monday night but is planning on keeping the original for the mantelpiece.

A proud member of the Indigenous community who captained an Aboriginal squad to England last year to commemorate 150 years since an Indigenous squad became the first Australian sporting tourists, he hopes the small gesture can help the cause – and wants others to get involved as well.

"I was talking to D'Arcy Short about getting it done … and once he saw the stickers he was keen as mustard, so I'm pretty sure he's going to speak to his sponsor as well and try and get something similar done," he said.

"Little things like that that myself and D'Arcy, and Ashleigh Gardner in the WBBL can try and do, and just promote cricket in the Indigenous community, and hopefully one day we can poach a few of those superstars who end up going to the AFL and the NRL."

For her part, Gardner has already gone down the same path, and last year went to the lengths of helping with the designs on her Deadly bat range through her sponsor Kingsport.

"It's pretty awesome that I’m probably one of the only players who gets to use something so close to them when they're out playing cricket, so it's quite a special thing to be able to do," Gardner told cricket.com.au at the beginning of the summer.

"Being able to go out to bat and having something so special to me when I walk out there is an awesome thing."

Following on from the success of the Indigenous-themed KFC BBL match last summer in Alice Springs, Christian has also been in talks with Cricket Australia (CA) about the concept of a full Indigenous round of Big Bash action.

"I'm very strong on it.," he added. "We've seen the success of it in the AFL and the NRL, and even that one game we play up in Alice Springs every year (was great) – last year the Strikers and Scorchers (game) was received really well up there.

"The work (CA) do in the community is brilliant, so an extension of that to make sure it's a full round I think would be a fantastic idea.

"The discussions I've had with CA are pretty positive that they'll be keen to do that next year, so hopefully it goes ahead."

Head of Big Bash Leagues Kim McConnie welcomed Christian's initiative while also pointing out that this year's Alice Springs match will be played at the same time as the National Indigenous Cricket Championship. 

"We fully support Dan on his journey to promote cricket in the Indigenous community and inspire young Indigenous Australians to pick-up the bat and ball more often," McConnie said.

"For a second season running we are taking the KFC BBL and rebel WBBL back to Alice Springs as we aim to create stronger links with the Indigenous community.

"This season we have scheduled the BBL game in Alice Springs on Saturday, February 9 between the Strikers and Scorchers to overlap with the National Indigenous Cricket Championship, providing the League with a unique opportunity to more effectively connect with the next generation of Indigenous talent."

- With Louis Cameron