Chris Lynn

A well-built, hard-hitting right-hander from Queensland, Chris Lynn is one of the most accomplished batsmen in the Australian domestic circuit. His ability to take on even the best of bowlers is a big plus while he also has the knack of adapting to situations and to different formats.

Much like any contemporary cricketer, Lynn made his domestic debut first in the shortest format of the game for Queensland against New South Wales. He then moved on to List A cricket before finally getting a taste of the longest format (first-class), all in a space of 2 months and at the tender age of 19.

Although he didn't leave a lasting impression in his initial games, Lynn took his time to get into his groove in all formats and started to score big. He scored an uncharacteristic match-saving hundred for Queensland soon after, showcasing his versatility, and thereby cementing his place in his first-class side. With an average of over 40 in the first-class format, over 30 in the List-A format and close to 30 in the T20 format, Lynn is a very good candidate for national duty, if the Australian selectors were to look for replacements at the top of the order.

In fact, impressed by his batting and fielding skills, the selectors presented him with the Australia cap for the home T20I series against England in January 2014. He wasted no time and bludgeoned a violent (albeit typical) 19-ball 33 on debut. His career, however, has been marred with injuries at unfortunate times, having injured his shoulder just before the Matador Cup in two consecutive seasons, thereby missing out on his opportunities to strengthen his credentials for the International side. This meant that he had to miss out on the Matador One-Day Cup as well as a part of the Shield season on two consecutive occasions. However, he made the most of his opportunities when he was fit, essaying a typically stroke-filled career-best 250 against Victoria in the 2014/15 Sheffield Shield season on his return from injury.

His game-changing abilities have already made him a bit of T20 legend. Back home in Australia, the Brisbane Heat franchise signed him for the inaugural edition of the Big Bash League in 2011 and that is where he became a house-hold name. He has been the 'man of the tournament' in the last two seasons of the BBL. In his most recent season, he was dismissed only twice and scored 309 runs at an astonishing average of 154.50 at an inconceivable strike-rate of 177.59. In the preceding season, he was the top-scorer in the BBL with 378 runs at an average of 54, and again at an unprecedented strike-rate of 173. He also holds the record for the most number of sixes in the history of the Big Bash League (94), and the most number of runs for the Brisbane Heat (third overall in the BBL). He clearly has some astonishing numbers in the Big Bash League, but one of the defining moments of his T20 career has been the over from Australian Test bowler Ben Hilfenhaus, in which he carted 5 sixes.

Needless to say, he continues to be the most dangerous player in the Brisbane Heat batting line-up and would probably make it to the top of the opposition's list of problems as well in the near future. He was also a part of the 2018 CPL in the Caribbean, but quit the tournament mid-way, returning to Australia to work on his batting in pursuit of his dream of playing the World Cup in 2019. His franchise, the Knight Riders, managed to win their second consecutive trophy anyway. Yet, Lynn remains one of the vital cogs in the Knight Riders' batting line-up.

IPL through the years

He was roped in by the Deccan Chargers for 4th and 5th seasons of the Indian Premier League for USD 20,000 before the Sunrisers Hyderabad signed him for the 6th season. After being released by the Hyderabad franchise, Lynn went into the auction pool for the 2014 edition and was roped in by the Kolkata Knight Riders for 1.3 crores. He immediately made an impression, pulling off a stunning (and potentially match-winning) catch to dismiss AB de Villiers at deep mid-wicket. The pivotal catch and a quickfire 45 won him the man-of-the-match award.

But a dodgy shoulder and other commitments ensured he missed most of the 2014 and 2016 editions and the entire 2015 IPL. The 2017 season saw him carting 295 runs from 7 games at an average of close to 50 which included 3 fifties. His best of 93* came against Gujarat Lions as he smashed 6 fours and 8 sixes during the knock. He went on to make several major contributions with the bat for the Kolkata franchise in the same season, most notably, a record 106-run opening partnership off 36 balls with Sunil Narine.

2018 was the only season in which he played all the games for KKR and was awarded Man of the Match twice. A slightly restrained Lynn scored 491 runs from 16 games at a strike-rate of 130.24. A fit Lynn in 2019 can be a major weapon alongside Narine at the top of the order for KKR.

By Rishi Roy