Kolkata considering Lynn for decisive role

Twenty20 star Chris Lynn could captain fellow Australians Mitchell Starc and Mitchell Johnson in this year's Indian Premier League after revealing he's been sounded out to lead Kolkata Knight Riders.

The Big Bash sensation was the most expensive Australian purchased at last month's IPL auction with the Knight Riders snapping him up for A$1.86 million having earlier bought Starc for $1.8m.

Kolkata coach Jacques Kallis told the Press Trust of India this week that Lynn is "one of the candidates" to take over the captaincy from veteran opener Gautam Gambhir, who will play for the Delhi Daredevils after a seven-year spell with the Knight Riders.

Having made a solid return to the KFC BBL and international cricket this summer, Lynn says he'd be happy to take the reins at Kolkata.

"I'd love to, I'd jump at the opportunity," the Queenslander told reporters in Auckland ahead of Australia's T20 tri-series final on Wednesday.

"We've got a really good group at Kolkata. The coaching staff, Simon Katich, Jacques Kallis, Heath Streak … I can relate (easily to) them.

"But there's a couple of boys that have been in the IPL for 10 years so you can't ignore their experience, especially in their own backyard.

"I'm still learning the game over there but if given the nod then I'd jump at the chance."

If Lynn's most recent T20 captaincy stint is anything to go by, the Knight Riders should not fear the Queenslander will be weighed down by the leadership.

At the helm of the Brisbane Heat in BBL|05, he plundered 378 runs at 54 with a sky-high strike-rate of 173 and went on to be named player of the tournament.

Fellow Bash Brother Brendon McCullum has since taken over the Heat job, though Lynn got some further experience in 2016 when he skippered Australia A in a one-day series against South Africa A and India A.

Lynn will return to the Knight Riders in April for a fourth IPL season having blasted 295 runs at a tick under 50 and a strike-rate of 181 in an injury-affected seven-game 2017 campaign.

Initially shocked at the news of enormous price, which he discovered while strapping his pads on the day of the Heat’s final BBL game, the 27-year-old has come to grips with the fact the figure will put his performances under added scrutiny.

"I was actually padding up before the last Big Bash game and 'Hopesy' (Heat assistant coach James Hopes) had his phone out," Lynn recounted of his windfall.

"Brendon McCullum came out … You sort of pause for five minutes. The heart rate went up a few beats but it's pretty cool seeing that.

"I've got to put the runs on the board because there is that added pressure now with that price that comes with it."

Trans-Tasman T20 Tri-Series

First T20I Australia beat New Zealand by seven wickets. Scorecard

Second T20I Australia beat England by five wickets. Scorecard

Third T20I Australia beat England by seven wickets. Scorecard

Fourth T20I New Zealand beat England by 12 runs. Scorecard

Fifth T20I Australia beat New Zealand by five wickets. Scorecard

Sixth T20I England beat New Zealand by two runs. Scorecard

Final TBC, Eden Park, February 21

Australia squad: David Warner (c), Aaron Finch (vc), Ashton Agar, Alex Carey, Ben Dwarshuis, Travis Head, Chris Lynn, Glenn Maxwell, Kane Richardson, D'Arcy Short, Billy Stanlake, Marcus Stoinis, Andrew Tye, Adam Zampa.

England squad: Eoin Morgan (c), Sam Billings, Jos Buttler, Sam Curran, Tom Curran, Liam Dawson, Alex Hales, Chris Jordan, Dawid Malan, Liam Plunkett, Adil Rashid, Jason Roy, Ben Stokes, James Vince, David Willey, Mark Wood.

New Zealand squad: Kane Williamson (c), Tom Blundell, Trent Boult, Tom Bruce, Colin de Grandhomme, Martin Guptill, Anaru Kitchen, Colin Munro, Seth Rance, Mitchell Santner, Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee, Ross Taylor, Ben Wheeler.