Dan Christian has announced his retirement from all forms of cricket, sparking a wave of tributes from around the cricket world. The 39-year-old revealed on Saturday that this BBL season will be his swansong in professional cricket.
Christian has played 405 matches for 18 different T20 teams, making him the most experienced Aussie cricketer in the shortest format of the game. He has played at international level for Australia and in seven separate competitions around the world.
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Christian told his Sydney Sixers teammates at training on Friday that he would finish up after the finals. Set to turn 40 later this year, he is seeking a ninth title in franchise cricket.
"Hopefully we can go all the way again this season, but regardless it's been a great run," Christian posted on social media. "I've achieved things and made some memories that I could have only dreamt of as a kid.
"What I didn't expect to learn as a kid though is how many people I was going to come in contact with that have had an influence on my career and ended up becoming lifelong friends. I'm looking forward to now having the time to catch up with you all and not having to use the excuse 'sorry, I've got cricket'."
English cricketer Luke Wright, who previously played for the Melbourne Stars wrote on Twitter: "Congratulations on an incredible career mate. The next chapter can be just as exciting. Good luck for the rest of the comp, hope the Sixers can send you out on a high."
Glenn Maxwell commented: "Congrats Sizzler. Unbelievable career." Fawad Ahmed wrote: "Congrats on ur amazing career Sizzler. I’m extremely proud and honoured that I have played alongside you."
While female trailblazer and Channel 7 commentator Lisa Sthalekar added: "You have been such a huge part of the BBL and Sixers. Enjoy your last few games mate."
Christian played 23 matches for Australia in T20s and 20 one-day internationals. He made a shock return to the national squad for tours of the West Indies and Bangladesh in 2021, but was overlooked for the T20 World Cup squad later that year.
He is one of six players to have taken a hat-trick for Australia in one-day internationals. He achieved the feat as part of his career-best figures of 5-31 against Sri Lanka in 2012.
Christian has played a record 133 games in the BBL is the only player to have scored more than 2000 runs and taken more than 90 wickets in the competition. He earned man of the match honours when the Melbourne Renegades won their maiden BBL title in 2019.
with AAP
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