‘Old blokes win stuff’: How Langer became a Christian convert

Aaron Finch’s Australians is expected to show solidarity with their Windies rivals while a veteran is set to return for his first international game in five years.

Dan Christian is still one of the cleanest hitters in world cricket Picture: Getty Images

The Australian cricket team is expected to defy the barbs of critics and take a knee in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter anti-racial movement and their West Indian hosts before Saturday’s T20 match.

Wiradjuri cricketer Dan Christian will be among those who embrace the gesture in what will be his fairytale comeback to the international game.

Christian, 38, only made the squad when seven players withdrew from the tour. He had not played for Australia since 2017 but has been productive as an allrounder-for-hire in T20 competitions across the globe.

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The Indigenous player defended his sport in the summer after Prime Minister Scott Morrison told Cricket Australia to stay our of politics. Christian responded that the game was leading the way because the government would not.

Aaron Finch and Justin Langer have engaged deeply with the issue and were keen to make a gesture.

“Black Lives Matter is just one thing around the world, but social injustice, the stain of racism on our society, if we can use cricket as a platform we will,” Langer said from the West Indies.

Speaking before the decision was taken, Langer said the side would stand united with the West Indies.

Finch met with West Indies captain Kieron Pollard on Friday and conveyed the decision to the team in a meeting soon after.

Christian told the Cricket Et Cetera podcast that he was proud the Sydney Sixers side took a knee before BBL games last season.

“It’s a pretty unifying feeling, we chatted about it a lot pre-BBL, we definitely wanted to do something, we felt that something had to be done based on what had happened around the world in the past six months,” he said.

“We had a few different ideas, we spoke about wearing black armbands in support of those who have lost their lives due to racism.

“Carlos Brathwaite spoke about it very passionately, about wanting to take a knee and we all more than happily jumped on board.

“It’s not so much in particular supporting the BLM movement, it is more to us a recognition and acknowledgment that people around the world are still being affected by racism.”

Langer’s face lit up when he was asked about Christian’s recall.

Carlos Brathwaite takes the knee for Sydney Sixers Picture: Getty Images

“He‘s finally worn me down, ‘Christo’,” the coach said.

“I’ve been in the job three years and every time he gets some runs in any game or competition around the world, he texts me and says ’Coach I’m ready to go, pick me, I’m the best allrounder in Australia’.

“He’s a fantastic bloke, he’s got an amazing set of hands in the field (and) he’s clever with the ball. His experience, and we’ve seen throughout the Big Bash and all around the world actually, he hits the ball as clean as anyone.”

Christian has become fond of the slogan: ‘old blokes win stuff’.

“It’s almost becoming urban myth, isn’t it? Wherever he plays, we win,” Langer said.

“He’s so excited, he’s probably a bit nervous tonight – so excited about playing for Australia again – and I just love seeing that, love seeing that energy. It’s like Moises Henriques as well. I love seeing that energy at whatever age.”

Australia is set to move away from Langer’s historically preferred team balance and include two allrounders in the series as it prepares for the World Cup.

Aaron Finch will bat at the top of the order and keep wicket, but young batsman keeper Josh Philippe, who top scored in the practice game, is also set to play.

“The six batsmen and five specialist bowlers – it’s certainly a model I’ve gone with throughout my whole head coaching career, there’s no surprise to anyone with that. And it’s been a very successful model,” Langer said.

“But if you look ahead … We might look at this 7-4 model, where you have a couple of allrounders. Different teams do it differently around the world.

“Looking ahead also to the World Cup, if we look at where it’s being played, the UAE, there’s going to be enormous amount of traffic on those wickets, with the IPL, the PSL that has already been. We’re going to play on some pretty worn wickets, especially towards the back end of the World Cup.

“We might have to find different ways of winning our games.”