COVERED WINTER 2019

17 JOIN OUR MAILING LIST FOR ALL THE LATEST: TRENTBRIDGE.CO.UK/MAILINGLIST “I don’t think I’ve ever been more disappointed, or angry, or upset, or any other negative emotion you can think of after a game of cricket,” Christian says, as we catch up a week after the semi-final. “I’ve always prided myself on being a part of teams that grab games when they’re there to be won, and by the same token, I can’t remember ever being a part of a team that has choked in a big game. “That’s exactly what we did. It really hurts, and it’ll hurt for a long time.” His latest stint in English cricket may have ended on a downbeat note, but there has been something of a quiet revolution at Trent Bridge in the five seasons since Christian first took to the field. So many of the lynchpins of theT20 side he inherited from James Taylor have departed, to other clubs, other careers, other challenges. But there is a conviction in Christian’s eyes and in his voice when he talks of the talent in the current Notts ranks, and their prospects for the future. “Looking at the calibre of player here, these guys are going to be absolutely huge for the Club in the future,” he says. “Players likeTom Moores, Ben Duckett, Joe Clarke – even Jake Ball, who’s been around for a long time but is still only 28 – are going to keep getting better and better. “Liam Patterson-White looks like he’s started his four-day career well. “All these guys can be goodT20 cricketers and good four-day cricketers, so we’ll be absolutely fine.” But what of Christian’s own future? Will he still be referring to the Outlaws as ‘we’ in the years to come? He may look the epitome of an athlete in peak condition, considerably younger than his 36 years, but sport can be a young man’s game. Does he have the hunger to go on and on? “I know I can’t do it forever, but I’d like to think I’ve still got a few years left in me,” he says. “My body’s still good, my mind’s still good and I still feel I’m hitting it well, contributing with the ball and helping to win games. “As long as I’m doing that, and as long as I’m enjoying it, I’ll try to hang on as long as I can.” But that step away from the field will have to be tackled at some stage.What are Christian’s thoughts on his career’s second act? “It’s too soon to think about it properly, but I’m sure I’ll stay in the game – I love it too much,” he says. “I never thought I’d want to go into coaching, but you do find that the older you get, you end up giving some of the younger guys in the team advice about something that you’ve learned, or something you’ve seen another player have success from doing. “And when you see that player employ that piece of advice and have success from it, you get a real kick out of it. “I daresay I’ll end up staying in the game somewhere.” It’s an almost surprisingly laissez-faire attitude to the future, but that trade- mark competitive drive is still apparent, bubbling close to the surface. He may not know exactly what the future holds – who among us does? – but it seems certain he will carry a singular commitment and conviction into whatever the game throws. GAMES IN ALL COMPETITIONS FOR NOTTS 81 HIGH SCORE V NORTHANTS 113 HALF CENTURIES 12 FINALS DAY APPEARANCES 3 T20 BLAST WIN 1 RUNS SCORED 2,021 AS CAPTAIN 60 WICKETS 51 BEST BOWLING FIGURES 5-40 DAN CHRISTIAN FIVE YEARS AN OUTLAW DAN CHRISTIAN “IT’S TOO SOON TO THINK ABOUT IT PROPERLY, BUT I’M SURE I’LL STAY IN THE GAME – I LOVE IT TOO MUCH.” Dan Christian