Photo Credit: Brisbane Heat
Brisbane Heat star Chris Lynn has informed the club of his intention to step down as captain for BBL|11 and will direct his focus towards continuing as one of the premier match-winners in the competition.
After leading the Heat for the past three seasons, Lynn contacted Queensland Cricket CEO Terry Svenson about his decision in the wake of his return from the postponed Indian Premier League last month.
“It has been a huge honour to skipper the Heat for the last three years and I am very grateful for all the backing and support from the players, coaching and backroom staff and the loyal Heat fans and sponsors,’’ Lynn said. “I am very proud to have led the boys and I have really enjoyed my time as captain. I have thought long and hard about my decision, and I think it is the right time for someone else to take over the reins and keep building with this talented group of players.”
“The group are in a really good space after last season’s BBL, and I think this is the best way forward for the club and for me as a player and I am confident the Heat can build on last year’s successful campaign”.
Lynn is the all-time leading runs-scorer and six-hitter in the competition, and was Brisbane’s leading scorer last season, with 458 runs despite missing five games due to injury. The hard-hitting right-hander scored five half centuries at a strike-rate of 154.
The Heat performed strongly in the back half of the tournament last season as they won through to host the club’s first semi-final since 2016-17. They won the ‘Eliminator’ and “Knock-Out’ finals before losing in the ‘Challenger’ to Perth to finish in third spot, their highest placing since BBL|06.
Lynn, a foundation player for the club, initially captained the Heat in 2015-16 in BBL|05 when he was player of the tournament. He then worked alongside Brendon McCullum as the Black Caps legend led the club for two seasons, before taking over the reins full-time again as skipper in 2018-19 in BBL|08.
He has led the Heat on 48 occasions, the most in the club’s history.
He currently sits on top of the BBL run-scoring ladder, with 2790 runs and a League-leading 172 sixes.
QC CEO Terry Svenson praised Lynn for his mature and selfless decision.
“Something like this is never a simple or comfortable process, and Chris certainly has our full support for the decision he has reached,’’ he said.
“We certainly respect his choice, and the reasoning behind it. He hasn’t rushed things and has consulted with key people in his life to make this call.
“Having spoken at length with him, I am very confident that he and Heat will both benefit from his decision and we certainly look forward to him bringing his experience and undoubted batting prowess to bear on the BBL|11 season and beyond.”
“A decision on the Heat’s on-field leadership for BBL|11 will follow in due course as we get closer to the season,’’ Svenson said.
