BBL great Dan Christian gives back to junior club

With the smash and thwack of another BBL season less than two weeks away, an ageless great has rounded out preparations where it all began.

NSW Premier Cricket club St George left a windy Daceyville on Sunday evening having secured top spot on the Sixers Conference table ahead of next week’s T20 Cup finals.

Chasing University of NSW’s total of 148 runs on a dying wicket, after several late hiccups, the visitors scampered to a five-wicket victory in the final over delivered by Sixers veteran Dan Christian.

“We were probably only 10 to 15 runs short with the bat,” said Christian following his third game for UNSW after spending the summer with Nottinghamshire.

A masterful 58 off just 39 balls by rising star Jack Attenborough formed the backbone of UNSW’s innings. But after he was dismissed, NSW Pathways paceman Peter Francis (3/15, fours overs) and leggie Joshua Moors (2/14, fours overs) combined to apply the breaks.

Jack Attenborough batting for UNSW against St George at David Phillips South, Daceyville, T20 Cup, NSW Premier Cricket, Sunday 4 December, 2022. Picture: Thomas Lisson.

Peter Francis bowling for St George against UNSW at David Phillips South, Daceyville, T20 Cup, NSW Premier Cricket, Sunday 4 December, 2022. Picture: Thomas Lisson.

In reply, at 0 for 51 after five overs, St George looked untroubled before Christian rattled Blake MacDonald’s stumps from around the wicket.

Young medium pacer William Calov then teamed up with right-arm leg spinner Ethan Jamieson to control the middle overs for UNSW, before patient knocks from Luke Bartier and captain Nicholas Stapleton laid the platform for a late St George charge.

Dan Christian bowling for UNSW against St George at David Phillips South, Daceyville, T20 Cup, NSW Premier Cricket, Sunday 4 December, 2022. Picture: Thomas Lisson.

Even though the Bees failed to make the T20 finals, Christian couldn’t hide his delight at reuniting with the club that kick started his Green Shield career back in the summer of 1997-98.

Luke Bartier for St George against UNSW at David Phillips South, Daceyville, T20 Cup, NSW Premier Cricket, Sunday 4 December, 2022. Picture: Thomas Lisson.

“It's been nice, I always love coming back to the club,” said Christian.

“It has been instrumental in my development, so it’s great to be able to repay the faith that they have shown in me since I was 14. So whenever I get the chance, I'll try and come back.”

As for the next generation, the 39-year-old singled out two of the club’s up-and-comers.

“Attenborough’s obviously doing really well, he got runs against the West Indies a few weeks ago, so he’s certainly on the way up,” he said.

“I know Ethan Jamieson’s primarily a batsman, but his bowling has really impressed me. He reads the game really well and is smart with his leg spin.”

Refreshed and looking forward to another Sixers campaign, Christian is unsure when his global journey of more than two decades will eventually come to an end.

“I'll just keep going until I’m either not doing well enough or I’m not really enjoying it,” Christian said.

“At the moment I still feel like I'm contributing and I’m still really enjoying it. So if I’m contributing to winning titles, then that’s the main thing.”