COVERED WINTER 2019

COVERED 12 TRENTBRIDGE.CO.UK Christian’s mid-season arrival in 2019 afforded him the opportunity to assess the Outlaws’ season from a fresh perspective. In a year when an injection of impetus was required after a disappointing run of four-day results, the Australian’s arrival – coupled with that of white-ball specialists Alex Hales and Harry Gurney – was perhaps more crucial than ever. “I made a point of catching up with Harry and Alex before the Blast started to say ‘let’s put our own stamp on this team’,” he reveals. “We didn’t want there to be a hangover from four-day cricket coming into the T20. “We tried to freshen it up as best we could, and I think our successes this year were a product of trying to play with freedom, and encouraging players to play the way that’s given them success in the past.” ******* Dan Christian is satisfied. For a man whose competitive fires seem never to be sated, it could come as a surprise in ordinary circumstances. But it hardly seems to matter that he sent down two wicketless overs and was denied the opportunity to contribute with the bat. The Outlaws have comprehensively dismissed a glittering Middlesex side to reachVitality Blast Finals Day. England’sWorld Cup-winning captain Eoin Morgan and international icon AB deVilliers have proved no match for Chris Nash and Alex Hales, who have guided the hosts to a resounding ten-wicket win. “That’s as good a performance as I can remember,” he says. “To knock off a target like that without losing any wickets was nothing short of extraordinary. “We felt that we were better than them man-for-man, and thankfully our bowlers did a superb job, and for Chris and Alex to get us over the line like that was brilliant.” The ground is quiet now, but Christian surveys his manor from the dressing- room balcony with an air of contentment. Two weeks from now, he will lead his Outlaws into another Finals Day, with another opportunity to add to his limited-overs legend. Finals Day appearances regularly punctuate Christian’s Outlaws career, but the Aussie derives equal pleasure from his side’s consistency over the past half-decade. “2017 is an obvious highlight, but I think the best thing for me has been our success in general,” he says. “The first year I was here, we only just missed out on the quarters – we had to beat Leicestershire in the last game and it got washed out. “Since then, we’ve had some wonderful success, and seen blokes do some unbelievable things.” Previously verging on inscrutable behind mirrored sunglasses, Christian lights up as he talks with almost paternal pride about the players he has guided through the last few seasons. “It’s been great to see blokes progress,” he says. “You look at Harry Gurney – I was always a big fan of Harry before I came here, but it’s been great to be able to play with him, see how he’s moved into other leagues around the world, and win competitions with him both here and in the Big Bash. “Guys likeTom Moores as well, it’s been really good to see how he’s developed.” As one of the most well-travelled players on theT20 circuit, Christian is uniquely well-placed to judge the standard and the stature of the English game. From the international superstars in the Indian Premier League to the colossal crowds of the BBL, the all-rounder has first-hand experience of the game’s shortest format in all its guises. But he reserves particular praise for the infinite variety seen at the birthplace of professional twenty-over cricket. “The Blast is very different, but it’s very good,” he said. “You play on lots of different sorts of grounds and wickets, and the English guys tend to play more sweeps and different shots. “The bowling’s different as well – you don’t see as many guys bowling 90, 95mph, but guys tend to have more tricks up their sleeves.There are more slower balls and a good number of spinners. “The game’s changing all the time as well.