Brisbane Heat maestro may have a point to prove to national selectors when the PM's XI meet Sri Lanka after being overlooked for the national team
Snubbed Lynn gets PM's XI opportunity
Twenty20 blaster Chris Lynn has been named in the Prime Minister's XI to face Sri Lanka later this month, opening an avenue for the Brisbane Heat superstar to force his way back into national T20 squad.
Lynn was today one of several big names overlooked for Australia's 14-man squad to face Sri Lanka and Pakistan in back-to-back Gillette T20 International series, along with D'Arcy Short and allrounder Marcus Stoinis.
But Lynn will line up for the PM's XI that will face Sri Lanka in a T20 fixture under lights at Manuka Oval on October 24, three days before the international series gets underway in Adelaide.
Although a regular fixture in the nets in Brisbane of late, Lynn hasn't played a competitive fixture since the Canada T20 competition in August, having opted out of this year's Marsh One-Day Cup 50-over competition with Queensland.
His lack of recent match practice was something Cricket Australia's National Selector Trevor Hohns cited today.
"We haven't considered him at the moment. Chris isn't playing any cricket locally or within Australia," Hohns told reporters in Brisbane.
"Sure, he's been travelling the world playing T20 cricket. If he performs well in the upcoming Big Bash, of course we can revisit that.
"I haven't spoken to Chris at all. To be honest, I don't even know if he's in the country."
Lynn is one of Australia's most explosive white-ball cricketers and boasts a T20 career record of 4,425 runs at a strike rate of 141.96.
He will be joined in the PM's XI by young NSW and Sydney Thunder batsman Jason Sangha, who was this week squeezed out of the Blues' Marsh Sheffield Shield squad.
The PM's XI will boast a twin leg-spin attack with new Perth Scorchers signing Fawad Ahmed and rising NSW player Daniel Fallins both added to the team.
Local ACT product and right-arm fast bowler Djali Bloomfield also received a call-up for a side that will be co-captained by Peter Siddle and Dan Christian.
"There is an excellent mixture of experience and youth among this group," said CA's National Talent and Pathway Manager, Graham Manou, the former Test wicketkeeper.
"We anticipate that emerging players such as Djali Bloomfield, Daniel Fallins and Jason Sangha will take great benefit from appearing alongside the likes of Chris Lynn and Fawad Ahmed.
"The squad has been selected with attacking, positive cricket in mind. We're confident these players will produce that, while remaining true to the traditions and values of the Prime Minister's XI."
Prime Minister's XI: Dan Christian (co-captain), Peter Siddle (co-captain), Chris Lynn, Jason Sangha, Fawad Ahmed, Daniel Fallins, Djali Bloomfield. Remaining players and coach TBC
Prime Minister's XI v Sri Lanka: October 24, one-off T20, Manuka Oval, 7.10pm (Fox Cricket and Kayo)