Lynn declares one-format future as BBL record looms

Brisbane Heat captain Chris Lynn has ended years of speculation about his potential as a multi-format international by declaring his intention to limit himself exclusively to Twenty20 cricket.

Lynn, a batting prodigy who debuted for Queensland in one-day and first-class cricket as a 19-year-old in 2010, said the increasingly convoluted cricket schedule and a desire to simply continue enjoying the game were key factors in determining his decision.

The former Bulls skipper and leading run-scorer in the 2018 domestic one-day cup did not receive a Queensland contract this season as he opted to explore T20 opportunities overseas. And with the protracted nature of this year's Marsh One-Day Cup, his involvement would have meant missing both the Euro League and the Afghan Premier League T20 tournaments.

As it happened, both those events were cancelled, but the scenario represented for Lynn a sign of things to come.

"Last year I could've sacrificed one tournament to play in (the one-day cup), and that's basically what I did," he told cricket.com.au.

"But when it stretches across two or three (T20 leagues), that makes the decision a little bit harder.

"I'm really enjoying the Twenty20 format and the opportunities that can be pursued in that format around the world are exciting.

"It's the way things panned out, and I know everyone's going to have their opinions, and that's fine."

Lynn said he was also conscious of not taking the contract spot of a young domestic talent, particularly when theoretically the state system would allow him to re-qualify to play for the Bulls via Premier Cricket. That scenario however appears remote, with Lynn's priority now the T20 domestics leagues calendar.

"The biggest thing for me is I've made that decision, I've just got to own it as well," he said. "If I chop and change what formats I want to play, and say yes and no to tournaments, then people see right through that.

"The big thing for me that I can't stress enough is being accountable for my decisions.

"I've always said there is more to life than playing cricket. You have a lot of off-field dramas between what goes on around the world and what happens in your own family, so you've got to put things in perspective.

"Make sure you're smiling – that's the most important thing – and I'm not smiling when I'm standing in the field after lunch on day two (laughs)."

Fresh from a dominant stint in the recent T10 League in the UAE in which he struck 371 runs at a remarkable strike-rate of 236 to be named the Player of the Tournament, Lynn has switched his attention to the Heat's KFC Big Bash opener against Sydney Thunder at the Gabba on December 17.

The 29-year-old says he has rarely felt fitter or stronger after around 10 weeks' rest from cricket between the conclusion of the Global T20 League in Canada in August through to his selection in a Prime Minister's XI side to take on Pakistan in a T20 in October.

And while Lynn is relishing the prospect of "smacking a million runs" in the BBL, the news of his one-format focus will invariably lead to questions about what might have been for a man whose first-class batting average of 43.53 from 71 innings sits behind only Steve Smith and David Warner among active Australian players (min 20 inns).

It was only two years ago that then Australia coach Darren Lehmann said of Lynn: "The Baggy Green is there for him – it's about getting fit and playing well". Two years before that, Sri Lanka great Kumar Sangakkara suggested a Test career "in the mould" of David Warner and Matthew Hayden was a possibility for Lynn "if given the opportunity".

As it happened, injuries persisted and Lynn's brief flirtations with the international arena lacked, by his own assessment, the necessary runs to stay there.

"I didn't do as well as I'd have liked when I got my international chance," he said.

"It's the Australian cricket team – you've got to be scoring runs, otherwise there's a long list of players who are scoring runs who can take your place."

Lynn has been increasingly hands-on with his business venture – PlayBook Coach – which aims to connect local private coaches with aspiring sportspeople throughout Australia. With more than 27 sports and hundreds of coaches on the books, the Queenslander is enthused by the potential.

"It's a really exciting time for us at the moment," he said. "As a kid, because I was in the rep sides I was lucky enough to be coached by some of the best coaches around Australia. But not every kid gets that opportunity.

"PlayBook is the best way for a kid to get coached by an elite player, or it might just be a coach around the corner because the parents are working.

"It's something I'm passionate about. I do a lot of coaching sessions, go to a lot of schools and work with small groups and teams.

"I've always felt like cricket doesn't owe me anything but I owe the game of cricket everything, and now I can extend that to the community and other sports."

As he gears up for BBL|09 by refining his game with mentor and Heat assistant coach Gavin Fitness, Lynn is benefiting from his longest injury-free run since prior to the onset of chronic shoulder issues that all-but curtailed his involvement in the 50-over format from 2014-17.

The T20 blaster needs just three runs to become the all-time leading men's Big Bash run-scorer and Heat fans will be desperate for him to reprise his role as the competition's most destructive hitter.

"I'm feeling really positive," he said. "I don't want to jinx it but I'm in a good space at the moment. The body's strong, and mentally I feel good.

"I'm coming into the Big Bash with a heap of confidence and a lot of hunger, and watching the girls (Heat team win the WBBL) on Sunday just fuelled the fire that little bit more."

All of which means Lynn is daring to dream of selection in Australia's T20 squad ahead of next October's World Cup on home soil, however he remains typically philosophical about the matter.

"The simple message (from selectors) is just bang the door down with runs," he added. "We'll see how we go through the Big Bash, without putting too much pressure on.

"The World Cup is a goal as well, but at the end of the day if that's not achieved, that's OK – if you get caught up in the excitement or the disappointment, I think you're looking at it the wrong way."