Notts Outlaws’ new overseas signing Dan Christian intends to, once again, fill the time between NatWest T20 Blast fixtures by playing for the Club’s Second XI.
The big-hitting all-rounder featured in five competitive matches for the county’s second string in 2015, offering advice to a young side as well as keeping his eye in with both bat and ball.
Three-day cricket at Ladybay may be a far cry from launching 117-metre sixes over the roof of the Gabba, but Christian insists he wouldn’t have it any other way.
“I think playing the second team stuff midweek helped me keep the batting and bowling going, rather than net sessions,” he said. “The match practice was really valuable.
“I’d definitely like to be doing that again because it helped my game immensely and I had a really good time with the second team guys too.
“There is a good mixture of older guys and some really good talent coming through at the Club, so it was a really enjoyable way to spend my week whilst also helping my cricket.
“You end up passing on some of the things you’ve learned along the way to the younger kids.
“It’s not something I’ve thought about too much and coaching has never been something I’m that interested in, but you end up doing it inadvertently having played a lot of cricket and been around for a little while.”
Christian put a week of preparation with the second team to good use in the semi-final of the Royal London One-Day Cup against Surrey at the Kia Oval, where he scored 54 off 43 balls.
Losing a last ball thriller by four runs, however, ensured that the former Australian international departed his first spell at Trent Bridge empty handed, something he’s keen to put right in 2016.
“It was obviously pretty disappointing,” said Christian.
“We were 16-3 so to get as close as we did was obviously an amazing effort chasing 300. Greg Smith was fantastic in that game. The hundred he got was brilliant.
“But it wasn’t just about that game. With the talent around that team, it’s fair to say we underachieved in the white ball stuff last year.
“In T20 to miss the quarters, then to miss out on that final at Lord’s was probably underachieving for us and something we’ll be keen to rectify this year for sure.”
The 2015 season saw dramatic last-gasp four day victories, thrilling limited-overs contests and an historic Investec Ashes Test, all in the unique surroundings of Trent Bridge.
Next season, we’d wager, will be no less enthralling and frankly we’d hate for you to miss out.