First Indigenous Captain of the PM’s XI

Wiradjuri man Dan Christian will become the first Indigenous player to captain the PM’s XI when they play cricket against Sri Lanka on Thursday in Canberra.

Partnering him as co-captain in the Twenty20 game will be cricket stalwart Peter Siddle.

‘It’s a bit of a weird one. I’ve never played in a game where there’s been co-captains,’ Dan said.

‘But Sidds and I have known each other for a long time and played together a lot for Victoria so I’m sure it will be easy to throw ideas off each other as we go along.’

Dan is one of the nation’s leading players in the short forms of the game having achieved great success over the past 15 years.

He has represented Australia in Twenty20 and One Day International matches.

Dan has developed a global reputation for his batting and bowling prowess while playing for the Melbourne Renegades, Nottinghamshire in England and in T20 competitions around the world.

He is the current captain of the Australian Aboriginal Cricket Team which he led on a tour to the UK in 2018 to commemorate the 1868 tour of the first Australian sporting team to tour internationally, a men’s Aboriginal cricket team.

The PM’s XI will be coached by former Australian fast bowler and current Adelaide Strikers and English county side Sussex coach, Jason Gillespie.

Ironically, Jason would have been the first Indigenous captain of the PMs XI in 2006 had he not had to withdraw before the game.

Also on the team is the young Indigenous cricketer Djali Bloomfield making this the first game to feature two Indigenous players.

‘I’ve heard a bit about him [Djali Bloomfield],’ Dan said.

‘I’ve got a couple of mates from here [ACT] and they both said he’s pretty quick. It’ll be exciting to watch him. Hopefully he can bowl a few bouncers at the Sri Lankans and get a couple of wickets.’

The Prime Minister Scott Morrison, who selected the team in conjunction with Dan and Peter Siddle will toss the coin when the match kicks off under lights at Manuka Oval.

Prime Minister's XI: Dan Christian (co-captain), Peter Siddle (co-captain), Chris Lynn, Ben Cutting, Jason Sangha, Fawad Ahmed, Jordan Silk, Daniel Fallins, Harry Nielsen, Chris Green, Djali Bloomfield, Daniel Leerdam (12th man)