Why will Dan Christian not play: Senior all-rounder Steven Mullaney will captain Nottinghamshire Outlaws in T20 Blast 2021.
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Nottinghamshire Outlaws have received a massive blow as their captain Daniel Christian will be unavailable for the imminent season of the Vitality T20 Blast. Outlaws confirmed the development a day before the start of the tournament naming senior all-rounder Steven Mullaney as the captain.
Christian, who had made his Blast debut for Hampshire Royals in 2010, joined Outlaws in 2015 after having stints with Gloucestershire Gladiators (2013) and Middlesex Panthers (2014).
It was in 2016 that Christian was handed the reigns at Outlaws and it was only as recent as last year that he had led the club to a title victory. In 73 T20s for Notts, Christian has scored 1,519 runs at an average and strike rate of 35.33 and 155.32 respectively. With the ball in hand, Christian’s 44 wickets have come at an economy and strike rate of 31.55 and 20.59 respectively.
Why will Dan Christian not play for Notts Outlaws in T20 Blast 2021?
Christian, 38, the last of whose 35 international appearances for Australia had come during the tour of India in 2017, has been recalled into the preliminary squad which will tour West Indies later this month.
It is worth mentioning that Australia had announced a 23-member preliminary squad for the tour of West Indies last month. However, there’s a strong possibility of some of the players named in the original squad missing the tour due to personal reasons.
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In such a situation, Australia have named six additional players namely Christian, Ben McDermott, Cameron Green, Ashton Turner, Wes Agar and Nathan Ellis to ensure enough reserve options for the white-ball tour in July.
“Getting picked by Australia again is a significant ambition fulfilled for sure, and particularly exciting in such an important year of T20 cricket heading into the World Cup.
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“It’s disappointing that I won’t get to don the Notts jersey this year and get the chance to play alongside those guys again in 2021. It’s become a big part of my life in recent times and I’ll miss it,” Christian said in a statement published on Outlaws’ website.
“Dan is in arguably career-best form and was a crucial member of the Sydney Sixers’ BBL-winning squad this summer. His selection is testament to the hard work he has put in over many years,” Australia’s Chairman of Selectors Trevor Hohns was quoted as saying by cricket.com.au.
