Photo Credit: Brisbane Heat
After more than a decade, the curtain has come down on the Chris Lynn era with the Brisbane Heat.
The Heat today have confirmed that a new deal would not be offered to the 32-year-old batsman for BBL|12.
Queensland Cricket and Brisbane Heat CEO Terry Svenson said the decision had only been made after all parties had taken a suitable period to reflect on their options following the end of BBL|11 where the Heat finished seventh.
“It’s not a decision that has come easily to the Heat by any means,’’ he said.
“Chris Lynn and his feats have made an indelible impression on the club, and his efforts over more than a decade can rightly be said to have had an enormously positive effect on cricket.
“We should gratefully acknowledge the influence he has had on a generation of kids who have grown up thrilled by his batting exploits.
“His appearance in a teal jumper each year would no doubt be linked by many households to the onset of their holidays, with the BBL being such an integral part of summer holidays.”
“The Heat wish him nothing but the best for the future as he transitions into another phase of his career and thank him wholeheartedly for his commitment to the game in Queensland,” Svenson said.
Queensland Cricket’s Recruitment and Retention Committee Chair Ian Healy said the decision marked the start of the next stage of the club’s evolution.
“Chris Lynn will be missed by thousands, however, the decision we have made as a club is about building on the legacy that he leaves as a foundation player, captain and ambassador for the Heat,” said former Test great Healy.
“We thank Heat members, fans, corporate partners and sponsors for their wholehearted support of ‘Lynny’ and recognising his great performances over the past 11 seasons.”
“He holds a very special place in our history,” Healy said.
Lynn finishes as the team’s all-time leading runs-scorer, bringing up his 3000th run for the Heat during BBL|11.
As a teenager Lynn played T20 for Queensland in the original Big Bash and was among the early signings when the Brisbane Heat squad was assembled for BBL|01.
He played in the Heat’s BBL|02 championship team and went onto to register 102 games for the Heat.
He became the first male Heat player to register 100 games for the club, with WBBL Heat captain Jess Jonassen achieving the milestone earlier in the season.
Lynn was the fourth player to reach 100 BBL games, and the first to play all 100 for the one club.
He is the all-time record-holder of the most sixes in BBL history, with replays of the night he hit a six out of the Gabba among the most viewed pieces of BBL footage ever.
While the BBL is currently in a contracting embargo period, teams are allowed to have non-binding discussions with players.
Svenson said the Heat had been “very active” since the KFC Big Bash League had finished in January.
“There have been a number of fruitful discussions and our coach Wade Seccombe, and his staff have worked hard to identify potential recruits for the coming season and beyond,’’ he said.
The QC Retention and Recruitment committee includes Terry Svenson (CEO), Kirsten Pike (Deputy Chair), Ian Healy (Director), Wade Seccombe (Head Coach), Chris Hartley (Selection Chair), Bennett King (High Performance GM).
