Christian's a T20 Gladiator

By Richard Latham

Gloucestershire have signed Dan Christian to play in the Friends Life t20 competition this summer.
 
The 29-year-old Australian all-rounder will be available for the entire competition to boost a Gloucestershire squad, who reached the quarter-finals last season.
 
Christian has represented Australia 11 times in T20 cricket and has played in 17 one-day internationals, taking a hat-trick against Sri Lanka on March 2nd last year.
 
In January he helped Brisbane Heat win Australia’s T20 tournament ‘The Big Bash’, scoring 37 off 21 balls in the final against Perth Scorchers.
 
Christian averages just under 21 with the bat in 100 T20 appearances, with a top score of 75 not out, and has taken 94 wickets with his fast-medium bowling at an average of 25.43, with a best of 5-26.
 
He already has a T20 winners medal from the English domestic competition as he was part of the Hampshire team who lifted the trophy in 2010.
 
Christian has also represented Deccan Chargers in the Indian Premier League and was signed by Royal Challengers Bangalore for the competition this year.
 
Gloucestershire Director of Cricket John Bracewell said: “I couldn’t be more pleased about signing Dan. He is a power-hitter and a vicious competitor, as is the nature of the new breed of top T20 players, who want to win every ball.
 
“Dan will bat in our top four and can bowl in the middle of innings and at the death. He is a hugely exciting recruit and he is well known to our new skipper Michael Klinger as both play for South Australia.”
 
Christian said: “I am excited to be joining Gloucestershire for the Twenty20 campaign. Having played in 2010 for Hampshire, I have already had a taste of county cricket and I am really looking forward to playing in England again.
 
“I have two months in India for the IPL prior to joining the Club which will be great preparation ahead of the English T20. I look forward to joining John Bracewell, Michael Klinger and the rest of the boys in June and pulling on a Gloucestershire shirt for the first time.”

Date: 14/03/2013 07:00:00 by Richard Latham
In: Today | Gloucestershire | England |