Chris Lynn has relinquished captaincy duties at the Big Bash League franchise Brisbane Heat, ending a second stint in the leadership role of the franchise. His exit was expected with head coach Darren Lehmann supposed to make a possible change at the top at the end of last season.
Chris Lynn, who is also BBL’s highest run-getter, led the franchise to a third-place finish last season and also finished as the team’s highest run-getter (458) despite missing as many as five games with a hamstring injury.
Chris Lynn Grateful For Backing And Support From Brisbane Heat Teammates
In all, Chris Lynn led Brisbane Heat in 48 games across two separate stints as captain. He first took the captaincy role in the fifth season of BBL before handing over the reins to ‘Bash Brother’ Brendon McCullum for two seasons. He took up the mantle once more before the 2018-19 season.
“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 in a statement.
“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.”
Brisbane Heat opened with two successive defeats before Chris Lynn’s injury but experienced an upturn in fortunes under the captaincy of Jimmy Peirson, with the keeper-batsman now a frontrunner to take over as full-time captain.
Chris Lynn’s Successor To Be Announced In Due Time
Queensland Cricket CEO Terry Svenson said a succession plan for captaincy handover will be made in due course of time. Jimmy Peirson will be the favourite to take over after deputizing impressively last season.
“Something like this is never a simple or comfortable process, and Chris certainly has our full support for the decision he has reached,” Svenson 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.”