Never considered captaincy material by the Australian system through his unique 17-year journey, Christian has carved his own path and grown into a leader on and off the field.

Christian made headlines in January last year when he instructed the Prime Minister to “read the room” after Morrison had criticised Cricket Australia for dropping ‘Australia Day’ from its promotion of Big Bash matches on January 26.

As a proud Wiradjuri man, the 38-year-old also helped shape Australia’s response to taking a knee for the Black Lives Matter movement.

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Christian stands by his decision to go toe-to-toe with the Prime Minister and is buoyed by a belief that Indigenous culture is being increasingly embraced by cricket and society.

“I wouldn’t say I was angered. More annoyed. I’m funny with my Twitter. I’ve got loads of drafts where I’ll type something out and then I’ll run it past a friend and I’ll just let it go,” Christian told News Corp.

“But that (calling out of the Prime Minister) was definitely one where I felt it was worth going through with.

“It felt like a bit of an ignorance on his behalf to not acknowledge the way I think the majority of people feel. I don’t know, it feels like the majority of people feel we need to make that change.

“It wasn’t a difficult thing for Cricket Australia to do to just say we’re not going to call it Australia Day, we’re going to call it January 26. It was a pretty easy change to say that as an organisation we’re supportive of a date change, and I was just backing them up basically.”

The controversy forms the start of a fascinating 12 months for Christian which he has documented in a new book called ‘The All-Rounder’ – a snapshot into his life as a Twenty20 gun-for-hire written with award-winning journalist and author, Gideon Haigh.

Travelling to all corners of the globe in the midst of a pandemic, all while helping his partner Jorgia through a stressful pregnancy largely spent in the confines of hotel quarantine, Christian also talks through his recall to the Australian team at a time when player tensions were escalating with coach Justin Langer.

Born in the NSW country town Narranderra, Christian was a promising rugby league player in his youth until he knocked himself out in a national schoolboy grand final attempting a kamikaze hit on former Australian Kangaroos and NSW State of Origin forward, Anthony Tupou and never played again.

“I flew up out of the line to try and put a shot on him. He was just too big. I got my head in the wrong spot and knocked me out cold,” recalls Christian.

But the twist of fate pushed Christian into cricket at a time when the phenomenon of Twenty20 was taking off, and he has become one of the franchise game’s most sought-after players in Australia, India, England, Pakistan and the West Indies.

BABY ANXIETY AND SOCIAL MEDIA ABUSE

The globe-hopping lifestyle took its toll like never before last year, when partner Jorgia discovered she was pregnant while in Covid-ravaged India and still to be vaccinated.

Blocked by the Government from returning to Australia and unable to fly to the UK either, the couple bounced around as nomads and even after eventually settling in Nottingham for the English season, they had to suddenly pack up again when Christian was asked to make a shock comeback to the Australian team aged 38.

Then separated from his pregnant partner for 114 out of 131 days, Christian eventually cracked when Jorgia and their unborn baby were disgracefully targeted by online trolls in India after his Royal Challengers Bangalore team were knocked out of the IPL.

Christian shared one of the vile messages Jorgia received, which said: “I will hit and rape you so bad that the child inside you shall also lose virginity.”

“That gave me a fair bit of resentment towards the competition, really,” said Christian.

“I know it’s not the competition’s fault … or 99 per cent of the fans fault either, but that’s how I felt about it. I was like, ‘f*** this.’”

Christian decided to withdraw as a standby player for Australia at the Twenty20 World Cup, also out of fear he would miss the birth of his daughter, Harper.

“Even though the attacking was at me at my page, my biggest concern was his mental health,” says Jorgia.

Baby Harper was born healthy and happy the day before Christian suited up for the Sydney Sixers in a Big Bash League match.

JUSTIN LANGER’S AUSSIE EXIT

Most of the commentary around Langer’s demise as Australian coach was one of two extremes. Either a complete denigration of his methods and demeanour or the blinded loyalty of former teammates no longer in the set-up who defended their mate at all costs.

But Christian’s book offers perhaps the most balanced critique of Langer’s coaching so far.

Christian admits he had reservations about the environment he walked into on last year’s tour of the West Indies and Bangladesh, and says a cutthroat atmosphere does not work – especially in Twenty20 cricket.

“I got a sense that it was a bit more of a challenging environment rather than guys having the freedom to express themselves,” says Christian.

“In the short-form it’s all about expression and trying to create an environment where there’s no fear. You can’t have fear of failure in the short form.”

But Christian says Langer’s character cannot be questioned and praised him for his ability to handle such harsh feedback from players and commit to trying to evolve.

“You may not always agree with his opinion, but you respect it and you know it’s coming from the right place.”

In the book, Christian writes about how he dreaded telling the ultra-passionate Langer he was pulling out of the World Cup, only to be comforted by his response.

“He started off by saying: ‘You’re the most positive guy in cricket I know. If you say you need a break, you really need one.’ I should have known, really,” Christian writes.

“JL has always talked about his family life being an absolute priority. It was great to find out that he really means it.”

FAKE CULTURE

Christian takes aim at what he believes is a prevailing attitude at Cricket Australia to put their bottom line ahead of people – using the recent Covid-hit BBL as an example.

“We knew the restrictions had nothing to do with our safety; it was all about keeping the show on the road,” wrote Christian.

“It confirmed that widespread feeling among players that the administrators care about nothing but money. We will fill out these apps about our mental wellbeing, but we recognise them as lip service to player welfare … Maybe we’ve relied on money to take some of the bitter taste away. But it seems like Covid has accentuated the worst of cricket – the uneasy sense we’re just churning out content for distant paymasters.”

Christian also questions the authenticity of presentations Australian players are forced to sit through on “culture” in the wake of the Sandpapergate scandal.

“Every team I’ve been in that’s had a good culture has never had to talk about its culture,” says Christian.

“The best teams you play in that don’t have issues with culture is basically because they’re all good people. It’s not difficult. They’re people that worry about the person next to them. You can’t manufacture it.”

MARSH A CAPTAINCY CONTENDER

Christian believes World Cup hero Mitchell Marsh should be the man to succeed Aaron Finch as Australia’s next white ball captain – describing him as the standout young leader in the game.

The veteran, who has been at the coalface of every new trend and strategy in Twenty20 cricket is also adamant Steve Smith is still in Australia’s best T20 team and should be retained for the World Cup in the middle-order.

“His steadiness in big games and big situations, I think you need someone like him,” said Christian.

Christian reveals Sydney Sixers coach Greg Shipperd is pushing hard for him to succeed him as BBL coach in 2023-24.

TAKING A KNEE

Christian personally drafted the public statement Cricket Australia issued to explain why it would be joining the West Indies in taking a knee last year and he believes that gesture should form a precedent for the team showing respect against international opponents.

“It’s about respect, really. If the West Indies are keen to keep doing it then I think we should keep doing it,” said Christian.

“I think it’s a pretty easy stance for us to take.

“Finchy (Aaron Finch) was the captain and was a bit stressed about it and about what to do and how it might be portrayed. All I tried to do was say it’s all about respecting the desires of the opposition and then also acknowledging the plight of black people over there, or Indigenous people here and recognising they’ve had their difficulties and all we’re trying to do is create some awareness of that in the hope things get better for them in the future.”

*Dan Christian: The All-Rounder with Gideon Haigh from HarperCollins on sale from April 8