Gilchrist lauds Lynn for ton of fun

Legendary six-hitter Adam Gilchrist has anointed Chris Lynn the most devastating performer in the history of the KFC Big Bash, after he was on hand to witness the Brisbane Heat superstar hammer an unprecedented 100th six in the tournament.

On a night when the Heat went top of the ladder after defeating the previously unbeaten Perth Scorchers, Lynn didn't need to look far for inspiration when it came to clearing the ropes; standing at the other end throughout his quick-fire 39 (20) was fellow Bash Brother Brendon McCullum, whose 107 sixes are the most in the history of Test cricket.

And milling about in the outfield prior to play, before taking his place in the Network 10 commentary box, was Gilchrist, the man McCullum passed in his final Test innings to snatch that sixes record.

Making them Test cricket's only two six-hitting centurions.

The man dubbed 'Lynnsanity' had history beckoning, too. Heading into this match on 98 Big Bash sixes, a staggering 40 clear of the next best in Aaron Finch, Lynn was a couple of swats away from a first in the seven-year history of the competition.

"The impact he's had on the Big Bash has been amazing," Gilchrist told cricket.com.au post-match. "Last year he won (player of) the tournament and only played five games – that's a pretty severe impact.

"He's the sort of guy that encourages people to pay money to come and watch, or make sure that they don't miss a ball on TV.

"Guys like Chris Gayle, they've played well around the world in T20 cricket, but as far as Big Bash cricket goes, Lynny I think has had the greatest effect."

Lynn's recent promotion to the top of the order already appears a masterstroke, and he again repaid the faith by knocking up the first 31 runs of the Heat's innings off his own bat, from 15 deliveries, before McCullum had even faced a ball.

By that point, he had moved to 99 sixes, after launching Englishman David Willey over the sightscreen with his trademark thunderous swing of the bat.

Youngster Jhye Richardson, Lynn's soon-to-be ODI teammate, had the dubious honour of bowling the delivery that brought up the Heat blaster's unique ton – 100 maximums from just 48 Big Bash matches.

"With Lynny it's just brute strength, and right from ball one," Gilchrist explained when asked about the 27-year-old's six-hitting approach, and how it compared with himself and McCullum.

"I think even Baz gives himself a few deliveries to get in, though he's starting to change that now, but through the main part of his career he was a little bit circumspect early on, and built an innings.

"He is going pretty hard now – maybe he's caught in the jet stream of Chris Lynn. But (with Lynn) there's just confidence right from the start, and there's no fear at all.

"It's modern-day cricket at its best."

It wasn't all good news for Lynn on Friday night, though; he left the field during Perth's run chase due to a tight calf, a move the Heat say was a precaution, and medical staff will assess him again on Saturday to ascertain the nature of the injury. 

Lynn shares the record for most sixes in a Big Bash innings (11) with, unsurprisingly, Gayle and, more obscurely, Craig Simmons, while he is also the only man to hit five consecutive sixes, an accomplishment managed against former Melbourne Stars quick Ben Hilfenhaus at the MCG in BBL|05.

He's also the only man to score 1,000 Big Bash runs in boundaries, and of the 11 players to have 1000-plus runs in the tournament, he stands alone with a strike-rate north of 140 – at a remarkable 158.17.

As astonishing as the numbers and records are, they're all largely unsurprising; Lynn is the Big Bash's biggest drawcard for a reason, which at least partly explains why his selection in Australia's ODI squad was greeted by many with a sense of deflation, as the prospect of his absence from the tournament that has so quickly become part of the fabric of the Australian summer sinks in.

Image Id: D5A90E75E16241B4941CE602FB7B79F2 Image Caption: Lynn has helped bring huge crowds to the Gabba // Getty

"As cricket fans, we're all pretty selfish – we want to see the best cricketers playing all the cricket, and unfortunately scheduling doesn't allow that," Gilchrist said. "That's not through anybody's fault – it's just the reality of the situation.

"National representation has always got to maintain its priority. The Big Bash is now well enough entrenched to stand alone not just on the back of one player – and Chris Lynn would never claim he carries it all on his own shoulders, far from it – so there's enough other entertainment and quality players around.

"If anything, it's a big tick for the Big Bash in that it gives him an opportunity to launch into the Australian 50-over team.

"So who knows what other opportunities will come down the track for him or other players from playing in this tournament?"

Cricket fans across the country will be hopeful the powers-that-be make Lynn a special case as he continues to get miles in his legs – and shoulder – on the road to recovery following last July's surgery, allowing him to maximise his batting opportunities by turning out in both teal and Australian gold. It's a difficult balancing act, and one that – for this summer at least – there may be no perfect solution.

But for now, Lynn can sit back and take a moment to reflect on his landmark century, just as Gilchrist and McCullum have done before him, albeit in a different format.  

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