Christian calls time on stellar T20 career

Sydney Sixers veteran Dan Christian has announced he will retire from playing at the end of the current KFC BBL season, bringing the curtain down on an incredible 18-year career.

The Sixers are currently sitting in second place ahead of tonight's blockbuster 'Sydney Smash' cross-town derby, and are chasing what would be a record-equalling fourth BBL title.

In a post on social media, the 39-year-old allrounder said he was calling time on a "dream" run that has seen him land nine titles in more than 400 games.

"Yesterday at training I told my Sydney Sixers teammates that I'll be retiring from playing at the end of the BBL season," Christian wrote.

"Hopefully we can go all the way again this season, but regardless, it's been a great run.

"I've achieved things and made some memories that I could have only dreamt of as a kid."

Dan Christian T20 career stats

P 405 | Runs 5809 | HS 129 | SR 138.17 | 100s 2 | Wickets 280 | Econ 8.45 | BB 5-14

Christian, in the final season of a three-year deal with the Sixers, has played for 19 different T20 teams around the globe, winning nine titles with eight different clubs.

That list includes BBL titles with three separate clubs – the Brisbane Heat, Melbourne Renegades and Sydney Sixers, while he also won a state domestic T20 title with South Australia before the advent of the BBL.

He's also tasted success in England (three times with Nottinghamshire, the club he has represented most), South Africa and the Caribbean.

Christian has played 405 T20 matches across six different domestic leagues, and his vast knowledge of the game led to the moniker 'Siri'.

He represented Australia in T20 internationals 23 times, the last of which was against Bangladesh in August 2021 across 11 years.

Christian also played 20 one-day internationals for Australia between 2012 and 2021.

Christian, a Wiradjuri man, helped design the Indigenous kit worn by the Sixers this summer, and led a tour of Indigenous cricketers to the UK in 2018 to mark the 150th anniversary of the first Australian touring cricket team, which was Indigenous.

The Sixers face the Sydney Thunder tonight before travelling to Launceston to play the Hurricanes in their final game of the regular season.

Already confirmed a top two finals spot, the Sixers will play at least two, and possibly three, games in the BBL finals. They face a trip to Perth for the Qualifier on January 28 unless top-ranked Perth Scorchers slip up in their final game against the Renegades.

The winner of the Qualifier will host the BBL|12 Final on February 4, while the loser will host the Challenger final on February 2.