Opinion
We’re now in 2021, which means COVID-permitting we should all be enjoying a T20 World Cup come November. Dan Christian is someone who I believe that Australia should be looking at for this World Cup.
Christian is still underrated by many in Australia even after everything he has achieved in the game, especially in T20.
Importantly, Dan Christian knows how to win, he has know won the Big Bash twice and last season led Nottingham to win the T20 Blast.
If Australia is serious about this upcoming World Cup, they must look at Christian. The experience he brings to the team is first class, having played in every T20 competition in the world the knowledge he would bring to the squad would be invaluable.
With this knowledge comes experience, which will be critical in what will likely be a very different tournament.
COVID will still be around, and it is still up in the air whether crowds will be able to attend. While these intangibles are essential what people really care about, especially in T20 is the tangibles the numbers, so let’s have a look.
In his 287 innings, Christian has scored 4943 runs and a very healthy strike rate of 138, this has included 14 50s and two centuries.
But that isn’t where his batting is most effective, coming in anywhere between 6 and 8 Christian is often left with the task of a quickfire 25, a task he accomplishes more than most.
That doesn’t mean Christian doesn’t go big though he struck 50 off only 15 balls to secure the fastest BBL 50 by an Australian in a recent BBL match.
However, I would suggest it isn’t really with the bat where Australia could use Christian most effectively it’s with the ball where he is most effective.
Recently Christian has developed a new style in which he comes around the wicket to right-handed batsman and bowls at their heels which has been incredibly useful.
Christians career number’s also suggest quality, 249 wickets at 28.30. With the upcoming World Cup due to be held in India, his experience on the subcontinent would be extremely valuable.
Having played in the IPL four times, he knows the conditions well and with his type of medium-paced bowling with a large variety of slower balls and cutters difficult on what are usually dry Indian pitches.
There is no doubt that picking Dan Christian is a World Cup squad would be risky he hasn’t exactly proved himself at the international level to date.
So far in his T20 international career, Christian only has 27 runs at an average of 6.75. However, he hasn’t been given a huge amount of opportunity, especially recently, his bowling average is somewhat more reflective of his skills 11 wickets at 28.
The other argument that is made, of course, is that he is simply too old. It’s an argument I’m definitely partial to but not during a World Cup.
A World Cup is a time to use all your experience and skills to try and win the event, development can come after that.
Christian will be 38 years old come the event in November, he is certainly not a young man anymore, and the George Clooney-style salt and pepper in the hair show this.
Age shouldn’t be an issue, there are many older players around, Chris Gayle is over 40, Brad Hogg played until he was 45, and if Christian feels up to it, he should be given this opportunity.
The questions should really be wherein the team does Dan fit not if he is in. Australia doesn’t really have a pace-bowling all-rounder in the setup, perhaps Daniel Sams although his batting is inconsistent.
I envision Dan Christian playing Sam Curran’s role for England, the number 7 or 8 batsman who bowls between two and four overs.
On top of Christian’s previous exploits, he is currently in the form of his life. Australia’s T20 squad still has many questions, and I believe that Christian will be at least one answer.
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