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Aussie hearts ache for injured Lynn

Captain Warner feels for teammate, explaining how recurring problems can take a mental toll

Australia's stand-in captain David Warner has backed fan favourite T20 star Chris Lynn to return from yet another shoulder injury, but concedes the consistent injury setbacks he's suffered will undoubtedly take a heavy toll on him.

Cricket fans recoiled on Wednesday when Lynn dislocated his right shoulder in the field during New Zealand's first innings of the trans-Tasman T20 tri-series final at Auckland's Eden Park.

The Queenslander has been forced to shelve plans to go to Dubai to play in the Pakistan Super League alongside his Brisbane Heat Bash Brother Brendon McCullum at Lahore Qalandars.

Lynn remains hopeful of recovering in time for the Kolkata Knight Riders' Indian Premier League campaign beginning April.

"It is really heart-aching for him," Warner said after Australia won the tri-series by 19 runs in a rain-hit clash.

"He is in great form and leading up to another series for him, whether that is PSL or IPL, it just doesn’t seem to (ever) go his way, the poor fella.

"We wish him all the best with his recovery and hopefully, the extent of the injury is not ligament (damage) or a muscle tear."

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Lynn had largely been hidden away in the lowest traffic areas of the field during this tri-series, with teammates alert to the fact he's still recovering from an operation on his left shoulder.

He returned ahead of schedule from that procedure, the third on that shoulder in two years, featuring for the Heat in their KFC Big Bash League campaign despite medical staff initially suggesting he'd likely miss the entire tournament.

So highly-rated is Lynn that he was whisked back into the one-day international and T20 squads (with a minor injury setback curtailing a 50-over return) having resumed his strong BBL form.

Warner says continually suffering injuries in similar areas is certain to weigh on Lynn's mind but praised his determination to get back on the park.  

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Asked about how Lynn's desire to return may be affected by this latest blow, Warner said."That is something for him to assess with the medical staff, it is up to the individual at the end of the day.

"You’ve seen it time and time again with people who have injuries at the wrong time and if they keep getting the same injuries over and over again they generally pull the pin on something.

"And with him, he is hungry and he is determined to keep coming back and performing and every time he does come back he performs.

"That’s the great thing about Lynny."

Spinner Ashton Agar, named player of the final for his match-turning spell of 3-27, said Lynn was simply a victim of poor fortune.

"He's just been so unlucky and you hate seeing your mates get injured, it's never nice and the boys are pretty shattered for him," Agar said. "Hopefully it's not too bad and hopefully he can recover well.

"It's just bad luck – you just hit your shoulder at the wrong angle.

"Building confidence in your body can be hard after a lot of injuries but he's got a really good mindset towards the game.

"He's a great bloke and we're all really thinking of him now."

Lynn has been named as a contender by Knight Riders coach Jacques Kallis to captain the IPL club, who picked up the Queenslander for A$1.85 million last month to make him the most expensive Australian purchase in the auction.

He will fly back to Brisbane on Thursday.