Chris Lynn is a popular player who is known for his hard-hitting playing style. He was a crucial player for Kolkata Knight Riders and build his image of a destructive opener in IPL. He has also done wonders in other T20 leagues in the world. Chris Lynn is the highest run-scorer in BBL history, with 2790 runs in 88 innings for the Brisbane Heat. Even after all this, Chris Lynn managed to play just 20 matches for the Australian cricket team. He is not a part of the Australian squad at present. He has also not been included in Australia T20 World Cup Squad 2022. Lynn is not even considered a potential player in the eyes of selectors now. He last played for Australia in a T20 match against India in Sydney on November 25, 2018. Since then, Lynn has not played for the Australian cricket team. Let’s see why Chris Lynn is not playing for Australia.
Recently, Chris Lynn made it to the headlines after guiding Gulf Giants to the glory of inaugural International League T20 title. The explosive batsman scored a splendid half-century to secure a seven-wicket victory with eight balls to spare. Lynn hit nine fours and a six in his unbeaten 72 from 50 balls.
It was shocking to see that Chris Lynn went unsold in IPL 2023 auction. The former MI and KKR opener had set a base price of Rs. 2 crores for himself in IPL 2023 auction. Unfortunately, none of the ten franchises showed interest in purchasing him. His last appearance in IPL came for Mumbai Indians in 2021. In IPL 2021, he played only a single match. After that, he went unsold in IPL 2022 and now again didn’t find any buyer at IPL 2023 auctions.
Chris Lynn came to the limelight in the 2015/16 season of the Big Bash League. Cricket franchises across the globe were largely impressed by the devastation he caused that year. It was not new to see a batsman scoring big scores consistently and thwarting the bowling around. But the manner in which Lynn managed to do that set him apart. That six off Shaun Tait will always remain in the memories of cricket viewers. But what happened that he is not a part of the Australian team now.
Why Chris Lynn is not playing for Australia?
Both Australian management and Chris Lynn are responsible for the exclusion of Lynn from the Australian team. In BBL 2015/16 season, Lynn scored a massive 378 runs from 8 innings at an average of 54.00 and a ridiculous strike rate of 173. Even after that, Lynn was picked for just the two T20Is versus India and controversially left out of the WT20 squad. The selectors picked Usman Khawaja over Chris Lynn.
After that instance, due to a string of injuries, including a severe shoulder and neck injury, Chris Lynn did not play T20I cricket for Australia for two more years. He was back in team to play in the T20 series against India. In the Twenty20 Internationals against India, he returned modest scores of 37, 13, and 13.
The most unfortunate mistake was done by Lynn himself. In 2018, he rushed back from a dislocated shoulder in a desperate attempt to participate in the IPL. He was excited to participate in IPL because he had missed the previous two seasons. Lynn dislocated his shoulder on February 21, 2018, against New Zealand. Instead of taking a rest, on April 8, he was in action for the Kolkata Knight Riders. Although, Lynn performed well in that IPL season but it cost him later. In 16 matches that IPL season, Lynn scored 491 runs. Lynn’s injured shoulder forced him to tone down his approach. Power-hitting, the identity of Lynn, was completely wiped out of his game.
All these incidents are the answers to the question that why Chris Lynn is not playing for Australia.
Why Chris Lynn is not included in Australia T20 World Cup 2021 Squad?
Australia has recently announced its squad for ICC T20 World Cup 2021. Chris Lynn is not included in the squad and it is not even a surprise because his name was expected by no one. The reason behind his omission from the Australia T20 World Cup 2021 Squad is the following.
In the 11-match run between October and November 2018 – across ODIs and T20Is – Lynn managed to score a total of 192 runs and eventually, the selectors decided to drop him after the ODIs against South Africa. He has since not played international cricket for Australia and has been playing in T20 leagues around the world.
Australia T20 World Cup Squad 2021
Aaron Finch (c), Ashton Agar, Pat Cummins (vc), Josh Hazlewood, Josh Inglis, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Kane Richardson, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, Mitchell Swepson, Matthew Wade, David Warner, Adam Zampa
All-rounders Dan Christian and Daniel Sams, and fast bowler Nathan Ellis have been named as travelling reserves.
