Lynn ponders change as injury strikes again

Queensland and Australia batsman Chris Lynn says he may have to consider modifying his training methods to avoid the kind of shoulder injury that has left him on the sidelines for the third consecutive year and he fears could threaten his future in the game.

Lynn was a last-minute withdrawal from the two-match Twenty20 international series against Sri Lanka earlier this month after injuring his left shoulder when diving during a training drill in Kandy.

It's the third year in a row he has injured his left shoulder at training after similar incidents cut short his 2014-15 and 2015-16 seasons.

While Lynn says the latest injury is "the best in a worst-case scenario", he will be out of action until at least the back end of next month's Matador One-Day Cup.

And he says he may have to consider a new approach to avoid further injuring his shoulder, fearing more trauma could threaten his career.

"I never want to get to that stage (where I'm forced to retire)," the Queenslander said in commentary on cricket.com.au's live stream of Australia A's match against India A in Brisbane this week.

"So I think at some point, whether that's from now until I do it again, I've really got to be measured in what I do at training.

"In a game with the adrenaline up, I've never actually hurt it in a game. You might only dive once or twice in a game whereas at training you’re getting on the ground 20 or 30 times. The numbers are up and the chances (of getting injured) increase.

"So for me I'm definitely going to have to pull it back, but I still want to train to the best of my ability."

Lynn, a powerful hitter of the ball who is keenly sought after by various T20 franchises, says he no longer dives at fielding practice when playing in domestic T20 leagues around the world, such as the Indian Premier League and the Caribbean Premier League.

But when he returns home to train with Australia, the Bulls or the Brisbane Heat, there are "no excuses" to not throw everything into a training session.

"I believe it hasn't hindered my game out in the middle yet," he said, adding that injuring his 'top arm' had meant his 'bottom arm' has become more dominant in his batting, particularly in limited-overs cricket.

"But the moment it starts to hinder my game, when I can't train to the level I want, that's when I'm going to get asked some questions.

"And they're going to be some tough questions, because obviously you want to throw yourself around in a game, but you've got to practice that at training."

Lynn, who despite the latest injury is hopeful of playing some role in the Matador Cup for the first time in three years, says players are always tentative when they return from a serious injury.

"It is quite daunting when you're injured and you're coming back ... there's always that doubt in your mind that something might happen," he said.

"So it does take a little bit to settle back in because in your mind you know you've got the skill, but then there's that ... little guy on your shoulder saying 'don't swing at the ball too hard because this could happen or that could happen'.

"You weigh up all these factors and it is mentally challenging for cricketers who play 12 months of the year. And not just (for) cricket (reasons), financially there are massive opportunities out there.

"We're just grateful that we have the support and coaching staff on board to give us the right direction and the right feedback to make positive choices, not just for the organisation and the player himself."