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Blaster to Baggy Green: Lynn's Test blueprint

Soon to be back in Australian colours, the hard-hitting Queenslander could tread a similar path to the Test side as the current vice-captain

Former Australia gloveman Brad Haddin believes David Warner's path from Twenty20 slogger to world-beating Test opener provides the perfect blueprint for six-hitting sensation Chris Lynn.

But while the thought of Lynn lighting up the Test arena is enough to get him (and most other Australian cricket fans) a little giddy, Haddin, for now, wants the Queenslander to focus on his Champions Trophy recall rather than his future in the whites.

The blazing right-hander was last week named in Australia's 15-man squad for the one-day international event to be held in the United Kingdom in June.

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Having shredded bowling attacks to be named the KFC Big Bash League's player-of-the-tournament for a second-straight season, Lynn's summer was derailed when he succumbed to a serious neck injury shortly after making his ODI debut.

He returned for the Kolkata Knight Riders in their Indian Premier League-opener with a blistering 41-ball 93 before again being struck down by injury, this time hurting his shoulder while fielding.

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Australia remain "hopeful" of Lynn returning in time for the June tournament and Haddin says other teams should fear him.

"I love that they've gone with Chris Lynn," Haddin told cricket.com.au from Sydney as part of the Champions Trophy tour.

"If he gets going on some of the smaller grounds in England, he's going to be very hard to stop. 

"I just hope his shoulder comes up because I think he can be a real danger player for Australia in this tournament. 

"He's someone the fans want to see – I know he's someone I want to see. 

"Lynn clearing the pickets in the Australian team like he's done for Queensland in the one-day format and (for the Heat) in the Big Bash. 

"He's someone that can turn a game like very few people around the world can." 

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While he's made his name as a destructive force in the shorter formats, Lynn has also cultivated a fine record against the red ball.

Injury has limited him to just 11 Sheffield Shield appearances for the Bulls over the past three seasons, but he's managed 842 runs at 44.32 (slightly higher than his overall first-class career mark of 43.53) with two centuries over that period.

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Warner burst into the public conscious thanks to his T20 exploits, making history in 2009 when he became Australia's first international debutant without first-class experience since the 19th century.

He has since ascended to the Test vice-captaincy and has become one of the world's most destructive batsmen in the longest format.

And having witnessed the left-hander's meteoric rise first-hand, Haddin says Warner has forged a path Lynn could soon be treading. 

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"Let's just see how he goes first at this Champions Trophy," the 39-year-old said. 

"But I think the more exposure Chris gets at this level, the more confidence he'll get in his game. 

"David Warner is a great case study for Lynny who probably sees himself at the moment as just a short-form specialist. 

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"But the more you get into the Australian set-up and the enjoyment you get from playing for Australia, he'll want to test himself at Test level. 

"David Warner is a great blueprint for him."

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)