BBL: Performing For Brisbane Heat Wasn't Enjoyable For Chris Lynn – Ian Healy

By Tamia Kumar

Updated - 11 May 2022, 06:15 PM

Chris Lynn
Chris Lynn. Image-Twitter

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Former Australian player Ian Healy explained Brisbane Heat’s failure on winning matches over the years led to Chris Lynn’s departure from the club.

On Wednesday, Lynn and Heat parted ways after 11 seasons of the Big Bash League (BBL), the 32-year-old played 102 games for the club.

Lynn scored 3005 runs at 34.54 and a strike rate of 148.33. He scored 24 half-centuries and his only hundred (101) against Hobart Hurricanes in the 2015-16 BBL season.

Chris Lynn
Chris Lynn. Image-Twitter

However, Lynn’s dip in form was a major concern for the franchise, which has won only one title in the 2012-13 edition.

Lynn amassed 215 runs in 12 innings at an average of 17.91 and a strike rate of 125 as Heat finished at seventh place on the table with 16 points.

Don’t think the winning part has come easily for us: Ian Healy

Healy is the  Queensland Cricket Director and was also part of the committee that decided to not hand a deal to Lynn.

“No behavioral or cultural issues came into this at all. To me, it was the fact that performing for the Brisbane Heat wasn’t enjoyable for Chris Lynn and our players on the other side weren’t growing so neither were enjoying the relationship. So it needed to change,” Healy told reporters on Wednesday. 

Ian Healy.
Ian Healy. Image: Twitter
“This is a sign that Brisbane Heat are going more to winning than entertaining. That gives a lot of pleasure to fans. I don’t think the winning part has come easily for us and neither party has been enjoying the relationship last year,” he added.

In the years where Chris Lynn and Brendon McCullum we still weren’t winning: Ian Healy

Lynn formed a lethal batting combination with New Zealand’s Brendon McCullum for the majority of the years. The duo was called ‘Bash Brothers’ for their bond and destructive show on the pitch.

In the 2018/19 edition, Lynn took over the captaincy reins from McCullum and led the franchise in 50 matches having won 21 and losing 28.

Wicketkeeper-batter Jimmy Peirson replaced Lynn as the skipper of Heat last year after the latter aimed to focus on his batting.

Healy mentioned that Heat was not in the winning mode even during the time of McCullum and Lynn. The former Australian player believed that the franchise was simply entertaining the fans and that didn’t work well.
“In the years where Chris Lynn and Brendon McCullum were setting the Big Bash on fire with entertainment, we still weren’t winning. To me, the other players weren’t stepping up and they’re still not stepping up and it’s become unenjoyable for Lynny. So we’ve just got to make a step and get some real responsibility into our players,” he said. 
Daniel Vettori and Chris Lynn (Image Credits: Twitter)
Daniel Vettori and Chris Lynn (Image Credits: Twitter)
“There were lots of reasons why last season wasn’t great but Lynny’s season, at the end of a five-year contract, was just poorly timed. This is one of the most significant decisions Brisbane Heat or even Queensland Cricket have had to make because he has been the Brisbane Heat,” he added.

Chris Lynn is not finished: Ian Healy

Lynn recently signed a deal to play with Northamptonshire in the T20 Blast, starting on May 25. Healy reckoned the Queensland player has five more years left in his career.

“Time will help and certainly England will help and hopefully another BBL franchise. All my cricketing instincts tell me he’s not finished. He’s got five good years and I really hope he can find some fun and enjoyment,” Healy asserted.
Lynn was named player of the tournament in BBL 5 for scoring 378 runs from 218 balls at a strike rate of 173.4.

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