Aussie cult hero's teary interview after farewell match

1 year ago 62

Aussie cricket cult leader Dan Christian teared up arsenic helium reflected connected his magnificent career.

The 39-year-old announced past week helium would discontinue from the athletics astatine the extremity of the season, which came connected Thursday nighttime arsenic the Sixers were knocked retired by the Heat successful the BBL preliminary final, successful what Adam Gilchrist described arsenic 1 of the biggest upsets successful the league's history.

Christian made conscionable 7 earlier helium was bowled by Spencer Johnson, before a spirited Michael Neser innings guided the Heat to a stunning four-wicket win and booked their spot successful the last against Perth connected Saturday.

Christian was 1 of Australia's astir prolific T20 talents. He played 409 T20s, scored conscionable shy of 6000 runs, took astir 300 wickets and won 9 tournaments.

Speaking aft the match, Christian teared up yet spoke similar a antheral much than acceptable to settee into beingness post-cricket.

"The main happening is being capable to drawback up with radical and accidental I haven't got cricket on," helium told erstwhile New South Wales teammate Trent Copeland connected Channel 7.

"I'm going to beryllium capable to drawback up with household and friends and spell to weddings and birthdays - each those things I person missed retired connected for the past 20-odd years."

Christian's BBL vocation spanned stints with the Heat, Hurricanes, Renegades and Sixers. He played 137 BBL matches, scoring 2098 runs astatine the mean of 22.32, portion besides taking 93 wickets astatine the mean of 27.22.

Immediately aft Thursday night's game, respective teammates and Heat opponents made definite of speaking with Christian.

He said helium had been reasoning astir the determination for months earlier yet pulling the trigger.

"I accidental I'm going to person a mates of months present … oregon the remainder of my life, really, to bespeak connected my career," helium said.

"I accidental it's inactive a small earthy present that we've mislaid that crippled - we were looking guardant to … playing arsenic good arsenic we could and winning that and going backmost and trying to person different ace astatine the Scorchers and trying to triumph that title.

"I person thought astir retiring implicit the past mates of months oregon so. It's been a beauteous bully run."

Christian besides played 20 ODIs and 23 T20Is for Australia.

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