After several forgettable summers, the Big Bash League has made something of a comeback this season — and Australia's ultimate Twenty20 gun for hire knows just how to keep the momentum going.
Dan Christian has plied his trade in the shortest form of the game all over the world.
And the 39-year-old, who has announced he will retire at the end of this BBL season, wants to see Australia's biggest names return to the tournament.
With the likes of Dave Warner, Marnus Labuschagne, Usman Khawaja and Christian's Sydney Sixers teammate Steve Smith all returning to their franchises following the conclusion of the Test summer, the BBL has regained momentum after suffering a downturn in popularity in recent years.
Christian, who has played just about everywhere T20 cricket can be played, wants to see more of the same.
"That's what you get in the other big tournaments around the world," he said.
"All the South Africans are over there playing in their own tournament at the moment. The IPL always has all the Indian players.
"For the Big Bash to keep growing and keep itself up there [on] the world stage, we have to have the Australian players available.
It's great the batsmen are all available. If we could get to the stage where [Pat] Cummins and [Josh] Hazlewood and [Mitchell] Starc are all available, it'll only make the competition better."
The inclusion of some of Australia's biggest names has livened up the closing stages of the Big Bash regular season, with Smith particularly shining for the Sixers, delivering back-to-back centuries.
It gives Christian every chance at claiming his tenth T20 tournament victory, which strikes the veteran all-rounder as the perfect way to end his career.
"It's currently nine at the moment, so it'd be nice to round it off and get to number 10," Christian said.
"We're certainly playing good cricket at the moment. It's as good as we've played in my time at the Sixers."
While Christian's recent form does not seem like that of a player on his last legs, almost two decades of training and playing at the top level have taken a toll.
Once the Sixers' season wraps up, be it in the grand final or not, Christian will call time on his career.
"This is everything. This will be it for me," Christian said.
"I haven't really made it look like I'm ready to go, but deep down I've been feeling it for a little while. I'm glad I've made the decision now.
"I spoke to my partner and some close friends and family. It's more the training that's made me want to bow out.
"I always pride myself on how hard I worked at training but in the last 12 months I've felt the training become a bit of a drain and I'm not enjoying it as much as I used to. And if I keep doing that my performance on the field is going to suffer.
"It's probably a good time to bow out."
