BBL news – Dan Christian comes out of retirement to help injury-hit Sydney Thunder

The 41-year-old all-rounder last played professionally for the Sydney Sixers two summers ago and has since worked as an assistant coach with the Thunder.

Christian has not played a professional cricket match since the Sixers’ BBL12 semi-final defeat to the Brisbane Heat, but has kept fit for UNSW in the NSW Premier cricket competition.

He will join an elite club of 40-year-old BBL players that includes Brad Hodge, Peter Siddle, Fawad Ahmed and the late Shane Warne, the oldest player in the league’s history at 43.

Christian is available for the rest of the tournament, which has already seen great improvements from the Thunder.

Sams (concussion) and Bancroft (fractured shoulder blade, broken nose, concussion) added to a growing injury toll that has also sidelined Jason Sangha, Nic Maddinson and Tanveer Sangha.

“I made the decision during the off-season that returning to the BBL or any other T20 league was never completely out of the question for me,” Christian said. “The body feels great and I wanted to make sure I was prepared if an opportunity arose.

“The incident with Cam Bancroft and Dan Sams was extremely unfortunate, but I am very grateful for the opportunity presented to me. I wish them all the best in their recovery and hope they return to the park soon.”

Additionally, Thunder could lose Sam Konstas to trial duties later in the tournament and hope to say goodbye to internationals Sherfane Rutherford and Lockie Ferguson as they head to ILT20.

“We are very fortunate to have Dan on the club,” said Thunder general manager Trent Copeland. “He is a BBL legend and we have no doubt he is still up to the task. We can’t wait to see him return to this environment and make an impact.”

Christian is considered a T20 specialist, having played 409 matches for 18 different teams in six different countries over a globe-trotting career.

He represented Australia 43 times in white-ball cricket and won three BBL titles, one with Brisbane Heat, Melbourne Renegades and Sixers.