Big Bash Daily: Veteran record, musical overkill and X Factor elimination

Sydney Sixers eased to victory over Adelaide Strikers thanks to an inspired display from Dan Christian at Bellerive Oval

Record-breaking Christian

One member of The Cricketer team has the unenviable task of putting together the T20 team of the year, including the international, franchise and domestic game.

There is an argument to be made and heard that Dan Christian is as worthy an entrant as anyone, perhaps even as the captain.

He's already led Notts Outlaws to T20 Blast success, and having swapped Melbourne for Sydney he is embarking on attempts to scoop a ninth 20-over major title with Sixers.

Christian is already twice a winner of the Big Bash League with Brisbane Heat and Renegades. Even at only 37 there is something barely believable about his drive.

This performance was another prime example of that. He was only in the game for 40 balls, but that was enough to send Strikers spiralling to their second defeat in three.

It is no exaggeration to suggest he turned the match on its head. He arrived at the crease during the Sixers innings with his team 58 for 3 from 67 balls. Christian turned his next 16 into 50 runs, with five maximums and one fewer fours.

It was the second quickest fifty in BBL history (Chris Gayle's dozen-ball blast remains the joint-highest in any T20) but the fastest by an Australian. Just when you think you've seen it all in this format, there is another moment to make your eyes water.

Despite having inspired a turnaround in the first innings, Strikers still looked well-placed chasing 178. They secured the Bash Boost inside six overs and comfortably ahead of the rate.

But primarily from over the wicket, Christian did more damage with the ball. He pinned the likes of Jon Wells, Rashid Khan and Liam Scott, restricting them for room and stifled the chase.

It was a masterclass of batting and bowling in the middle overs. Christian didn't waste a single delivery. "I was just trying something different," the allrounder said afterwards. As it turns out, it was doing what has produced success for 14 years that made the difference.

Where can I watch BBL 10 on TV? Big Bash League 2020-21 streaming details

Briggs the victim

Teams are still figuring out how best to deploy the X Factor substitution rule. It has been used with tentative ambition thus far. Sometimes successfully, occasionally without any consequence.

For every substitute parachuted into a match, there is a victim who has gone from the first XI to carrying the drinks. It is quite the existence.

Danny Briggs has started all three of Strikers' matches in his maiden campaign in an overseas T20 league. Under the wing of recently departed Sussex chief Jason Gillespie, the spinner should be in good hands with someone who knows his strengths and weaknesses better than most.

And as an overseas player, you would expect him to get first dibs on a starting berth too, alongside Phil Salt and Rashid Khan. But in his three outings, Briggs has only finished one - his debut against Hobart Hurricanes.

On both occasions, he has been drafted out of the XI, replaced first by Matthew Short and then Liam Scott. With the ball doing little off the pitches, having both Rashid and Briggs in toe feels like overkill, and the changes have reflected that.

Briggs may have to wait for Rashid to depart for international duty before taking a leading role for Strikers. That is likely to be from early January. But before then X-Factor might come with the feeling of a cruel elimination.

^{The defending champions staged a fine comeback to beat Strikers, having been inserted}

Musical overkill

If the pandemic has highlighted anything, it is that a sporting soundtrack is nothing without fans. I've written countless times this summer about fake crowd noise being normalised at sports events across the world.

The BBL have decided that instead of allowing an atmosphere to percolate that music will be played not just between each over, but every ball.

That's at least 240 snippets of tracks across three-and-a-half hours. They manage to fit some cricket in too.

Granted, Bellerive Oval was not packed out for this encounter but at least give those who did attend a chance.

For those asking, Dua Lipa, The Cure and The Rolling Stones are among those being rolled out to the nullified masses, who must feel obligated to sit in silence and soak up the wall-to-wall fun.

The epitaph of the BBL is to ignore the adage that less is more. This latest moment of overkill almost feels fitting.

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