COVERED WINTER 2019

15 @TRENTBRIDGE DAN CHRISTIAN “In 2016 and ’17,Trent Bridge was very much an easy chasing ground for us – although a lot of that was to do with the experience we had in the team, the likes of Lumb,Wessels,Taylor, Read… “We’ve had to adapt in the last couple of years, and this year’s been a challenge in particular. “There’s been so much cricket played across the country with theWorld Cup, and the Blast has been a bit later in the season, so we’ve played on lots of differ- ent surfaces, quite a few used surfaces. “We’ve batted first a lot more and tried to restrict chasing teams by taking a lot of pace off, so it’s been a different kind of cricket tactically. “But, as tends to happen with good sides, you find a way to adapt, and good players always come to the fore.” To call some of the individuals Christian has played with and against ‘good’ would be doing them something of a disservice. And to hear him discuss the toughest opponents he’s faced during his time in England is to revel in a list of players who would grace any all-time T20 XI. “There are world-class players all over the place,” he said. “When I was first over here, playing for Hampshire, you had Kieron Pollard hitting the ball out of the stadium all of the time for Somerset – and Chris Gayle played a year down there as well. “There are superstars all over the place – Ben Stokes played a lot when he was coming through, I had a year with Eoin Morgan at Middlesex, and AB deVilliers has been down there this year as well. “It’s a wonderful time of year to be in England – the sun doesn’t go down until 10, the crowds are great, and everyone’s having a good time. It’s a wonderful place to play cricket.” ******* Dan Christian is disconsolate. His two-month stint in England has not been without its highs and lows, but there was always one objective in sight. He had implored his side to peak at the right time; make it to Finals Day; inscribe their names in Outlaws history by winning the Blast. But the green and golds have fallen short in the most heart-breaking of circumstances. Hales, Nash and Duckett may have made a positive start to the chase against the Rapids, but the contest was to unravel in the final two overs. And Christian, so often the ‘finisher’ for his side, would finish the game watching on in anguish from the dugout. Having been the victim of some smart fielding from hisWorcestershire counter- part Moeen Ali, the skipper is alone with his thoughts as Duckett fails to scramble a single from the final ball. Notts have lost by one run; Edgbaston on Finals Day, for so long the only place that Christian has wanted to be all summer, is suddenly a venue he can’t wait to see the back of. Yes, he is already a serial trophy-winner. Yes, the Outlaws have maintained their overall consistency in the Blast. But chances to win trophies are not a given.Who knows if Notts, or Christian, will have this chance again next season? The future is promising, but it is also uncertain.All that is sure for now is that this hurts. GO WORK REST & PLAY WITH THE OUTLAWS Book your club tour at West Bridgford today, call 0345 129 6810 or come down and see us: Rugby Rd, West Bridgford, Nottingham NG2 7HX