Chris Lynn rejects Queensland Cricket contract offer, snubs long-form for limited-overs amid injury
MASTER blaster Chris Lynn was offered a Queensland Cricket contract but rejected it to keep himself clear for lucrative T20 cricket.
Foxsports.com.au can reveal that Lynn has elected to pursue white ball formats instead of chasing a baggy green this summer - the first Australian player in his prime to do so, albeit temporarily and largely due to an ongoing shoulder problem.
The 27-year-old remains on amicable terms with Queensland Cricket and his decision has in no way fractured relationships with players, coaches or administrators. Nor will it influence whether he plays Sheffield Shield cricket further down the track.
Lynn’s decision to snub the longest form of cricket is mostly physical, but clearly there are financial ramifications too. He can now focus purely on short-form cricket, which is far more lucrative and will also help protect his troublesome shoulder.
It’s understood Lynn, who is still only a 50/50 chance to play Big Bash for the Brisbane Heat due to a shoulder injury, is committed to one-day and T20 cricket this summer and is highly unlikely to make himself available for Shield cricket post-BBL. Sources close to him have even indicated he is unlikely to front up in anything but one-day or T20 matches for Toombul District Cricket Club.
Instead he is eager to prepare for the lucrative Pakistan Super League, Indian Premier League and subsequent tournaments around the world.
Had he been fit, the top order slugger would have been selected and played in Queensland’s Matador Cup team, but shoulder surgery means he will be sidelined until at least December, which also rules him out of the inaugural South African T20 tournament beginning in November.
There is no suggestion that he has given up on playing Test cricket, just that he has put it on the backburner for at least 12 months after two injury-riddled seasons which have yielded just six Sheffield Shield games and no domestic one-dayers. Lynn has had delayed starts to each of the last four summers.
“Longevity was why I took that option to have the (shoulder) operation,” Lynn told the Courier Mail earlier this month.
“It’s a short-term loss for a long-term gain. They (career-ending) are words you don’t want to hear but they are down that path. I’ve got to be more cautious and have more smarts about how I go about things.
“I am zero or 100 but there are times I have to reel it back and get another 10 years out of my career. We’ll see how smart I am in the next 12 months.”
Although players such as Brad Hodge, Dirk Nannes, Shaun Tait and many more have retired from red ball cricket to focus on T20 riches, Lynn is the first Australian player to reject the longest format while still in his prime.
It’s another example of the changing nature of professional cricket, with shorter formats attracting more and more players due to the decreased physical demands and increased wages.
Plenty of eyebrows were raised when Lynn was not on Queensland’s contract list that was released on Tuesday. The state released a statement which said Lynn “would be considered for selection like any other player” once he returned to full fitness. But by then it’s understood red ball cricket won’t be on his radar.
Lynn plundered 309 runs in last summer’s BBL at a strike-rate of 177.58. He was dismissed just twice from five matches before a neck injury brought a premature end to his campaign.
He averages 45 from 41 first-class matches and has played one ODI and five international T20s for Australia.
https://www.foxsports.com.au/cricke...k=e9824ae6b7c988f0b6d5d7fc9bfd515c-1503032435
why does this happen to LAHORE every time
