BBL 14: Sydney Thunder assistant coach named replacement player amid mounting injury toll

BBL 14: Sydney Thunder assistant coach named replacement player amid mounting injury toll

Dan Christian, Sydney Thunder’s 41-year-old assistant coach for the past two seasons, has been added to the squad as a replacement player amid an ever-increasing list of injuries.

With Tanveer Sangha (side strain), Jason Sangha (bicep), Daniel Sams (concussion), Cameron Bancroft (broken nose and fractured shoulder), and Sam Konstas (Australian Test duties) unavailable, the side was forced to make changes to its roster.

Trent Copeland, Thunder General Manager, said: “We’re very fortunate to have Dan already within the club. He’s a legend of the BBL and we’ve got no doubt he’s still up to the level. We can’t wait to see him jump back into this environment and make an impact.”

Dan’s most recent BBL appearance was in the 2022-23 semi-final at the Sydney Cricket Ground, where he faced the Heat.

Dan said: “I’m fully committed to my coaching role with the team and have really enjoyed working with the squad we have here at Sydney Thunder for BBL 14. I made the decision during the off-season that a return to the BBL or any other T20 league was never entirely off the table for me. I’ve been playing NSW Premier Cricket with UNSW Cricket Club, and training hard. The body feels great, and I wanted to ensure I was prepared if an opportunity arose.

“The incident with Cam Bancroft and Dan Sams was extremely unfortunate, but I’m really grateful for the opportunity it’s presented. I wish them all the best with their recoveries and hope they’ll be back on the park soon.”