Lynn looms large in final XI puzzle

Despite playing only a handful of one-day matches since Australia's last ICC Champions Trophy campaign four years ago, T20 sensation Chris Lynn says he's equipped to handle the slower pace of 50-over cricket over the next three weeks.

But the powerful right-hander has still pledged to unleash Lynnsanity if given the chance in his first major international tournament.

The final piece of the puzzle ahead of Australia's Champions Trophy opener on Friday will be put in place in the coming days, and Lynn is in line for just his second one-day international when the Aussies take on New Zealand at Edgbaston.

Aside from his solitary ODI to date against Pakistan in January, Lynn has played just 10 List A matches – all for Australia A – since November 2013 due to a string of serious shoulder injuries, the latest of which in April that had threatened his participation in this tournament.

While his luckless run of injuries has meant he's barely been spotted in first-class or one-day cricket over the past four years, the Queenslander has established a reputation as one of the biggest and most exhilarating hitters in the 20-over game.

Quick single: Cummins focused on bowling, not body

Lynn has amassed almost 1500 domestic T20 runs in Australia, India and the Caribbean over the past 18 months, averaging more than 56 and striking at almost 160 runs per 100 balls.

Despite his free-flowing approach in 20-over cricket, Lynn says his recent Indian Premier League form gives him belief that he can change down the gears in the 50-over format if required. 

"At the end of the day, it’s a white ball coming down at me and if I can smack the ball like I do in T20s, I’ll be pretty happy," he says.

"But finding that right tempo is key and working out when to play smart cricket and when to have a go.

"I guess I’ve got to sum up each game as they come and each scenario. 

"If I do get the license out there, obviously it’s going to be good fun and hopefully I can get going. But if we do, say, lose a couple of early ones then I’ve got to pull my head in and reel it in and play some smart cricket.

"I think the way I played in India, obviously there were a lot of big hits over there, but I thought my game awareness was pretty good as well in certain situations. So I’ve just got to find the right tempo and find it as early as possible."

While the form of Aaron Finch in Australia's two warm-up matches on this tour has seemingly ended any chance Lynn had of opening the batting in the tournament, there remains one spot up for grabs in the middle order.

A top three of Finch, David Warner and Steve Smith is settled while allrounders Travis Head and Glenn Maxwell should also earn a spot, meaning Lynn is seemingly battling medium-pace allrounders Marcus Stoinis and Moises Henriques for the final position in the top six.

Both allrounders have strong cases to play against the Kiwis; Stoinis produced one of Australia's greatest-ever ODI knocks against the Black Caps earlier this year, while Henriques has averaged 69, 63 and 54 respectively in the past three editions of the Matador One-Day Cup.

Quick single: Champions Trophy: All you need to know

Lynn unsurprisingly played a straight bat when he was asked about his selection chances this week, but he's in no doubt as to the magnitude of the task facing selector-on-duty Trevor Hohns and coach Darren Lehmann.

"I haven’t really thought about to be honest," he said.

"Whoever plays in the best XI is obviously there for a reason. And whoever’s missing out is a bit, well, not stiff because who do you drop out of that line-up?

"We’re all good players. To be honest I haven’t thought that far ahead.

"Whatever happens, mate. If we win the comp, who cares?"

While Lynn won't hold anything back with bat in hand if given the chance in this tournament, he's confirmed he'll adopt a more conservative approach in the field in order to avoid the kind of shoulder injury that has so badly affected his past four years.

The multiple shoulder dislocations he's suffered have come when fielding, either at training or in a match, and the 27-year-old has reluctantly accepted that his fielding technique has to change.

"I can’t dive with my arms outstretched, it’s got to be sort of nice and tight in," he explained.

"It’s taken me a couple of dislocations to get that, but I’ve got a fair bit of strapping on there to remind me. 

"So I think, as much as you want to try and dive and save as many runs for your team, there’s a point where you’ve got to reel it in and be realistic with your body.

"I’m pretty comfortable with it at the moment."

Champions Trophy 2017 Guide

Squads: Every Champions Trophy squad named so far

Group A: Australia, New Zealand, England, Bangladesh.

Group B: India, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Pakistan.

Schedule

Warm-up matches

26 May – Australia v Sri Lanka, The Oval

27 May – Bangladesh v Pakistan, Edgbaston

28 May – India v New Zealand, The Oval

29 May – Australia v Pakistan, Edgbaston

30 May – New Zealand v Sri Lanka, Edgbaston

30 May – Bangladesh vs India, The Oval

Tournament

1 June – England v Bangladesh, The Oval (Day)

2 June – Australia v New Zealand, Edgbaston (D)

3 June – Sri Lanka v South Africa, The Oval (D)

4 June – India v Pakistan, Edgbaston (D)

5 June – Australia v Bangladesh, The Oval (D/N)

6 June – England v New Zealand, Cardiff (D)

7 June – Pakistan v South Africa, Edgbaston (D/N)

8 June – India v Sri Lanka, The Oval (D)

9 June – New Zealand v Bangladesh, Cardiff (D)

10 June – England v Australia, Edgbaston (D)

11 June – India v South Africa, The Oval (D)

12 June – Sri Lanka v Pakistan, Cardiff (D)

14 June – First semi-final (A1 v B2), Cardiff (D)

15 June – Second semi-final (A2 v B1), Edgbaston (D)

18 June – Final, The Oval (D)

19 June – Reserve day (D)