Bulls contract Lynn ahead of JLT Cup

Chris Lynn is set to pull on a Queensland shirt in the domestic one-day competition for the first time in five years after the Bulls handed a last-minute playing contract to the six-hitting sensation.

In a boost for his bid to win a spot in Australia's one-day international squad for next year's World Cup, Lynn has been handed a Queensland deal with a view to him featuring in September's JLT One-Day Cup.

His addition to the squad comes in unusual circumstances, with Queensland Cricket announcing Monday that allrounder Jason Floros has given up his own playing contract as he focuses on completing tertiary studies.

Floros' decision to relinquish his deal means Lynn, who had not held a national or state contract since the end of the 2016-17 season, has been added to the Bulls playing squad for the coming summer.

The 28-year-old Lynn is set to depart this week for Guyana where he's playing in the Carribbean Premier League with the likes of fellow Australians Steve Smith, David Warner and Ben Cutting who are all featuring in the T20 league.

"It's been a few years since I have been a part of the group for the limited overs competition so I'm looking forward to getting involved and hopefully help us to play some good cricket,''said Lynn, whose most recent playing stint was for Kolkata Knight Riders during this year's Indian Premier League.

"I've enjoyed training with the boys in the off-season and am keen to get into the playing side of things again, first with the Knight Riders in the CPL and then the JLT Cup."

In a blow for the Bulls, Jimmy Peirson, their Sheffield Shield-winning captain from last season, will miss the JLT Cup as he undergoes hamstring surgery.

The injury-riddled Lynn has not played a 50-over match for the Bulls since the final of the 2013 domestic one-day competition, but Australia have been keen to get him involved in their 50-over side in recent times.

The right-hander was named in Australia's Champions Trophy squad in the United Kingdom last year, while his most recent List A match was his ODI debut against Pakistan at the Gabba in January 2017.

With Peirson out and regular skipper Usman Khawaja expected to be heading to the UAE for Australia's two-Test tour of Pakistan, Lynn could conceivably be an option to hold a leadership role during the JLT Cup.

But if Queensland hope to have Lynn available for their JLT Cup opener, he may have to cut short his stint in the Caribbean. His Guyana Amazon Warriors play their first match of this year's CPL on August 9, with the final of the competition to be held on September 16, the same day the Bulls kick off their one-day campaign against Victoria in Townsville.

Floros meanwhile is expected to continue playing Premier Cricket in Brisbane but is no longer under contract with Queensland.

"Flo has always been a consummate team man and squad member and his decision to hand back a contract and create a spot in the squad speaks highly of his character," Bulls coach Wade Seccombe said. "We congratulate him on his career with the Bulls and thank him for his dedication and generosity, especially as a leader with in the group."

Seccombe suggested Lachlan Pfeffer, Lewin Maladay and Tom Healy (the son of former Test vice-captain Ian Healy) are all in the mix to take the gloves in the absence of regular wicketkeeper Peirson.

"You accept that injuries are a part and parcel of the game but certainly the wicket-keeper fills a pretty specific role in the team and is not easy to replace," continued Seccombe, a former Bulls gloveman himself.

"Add into the mix Jimmy's leadership and it does present us with a few challenges, but on the flipside, it also creates some opportunities to work on between now and the start of the season."

"We're fortunate that Lachy Pfeffer has the benefit of coming into his second year as a contracted player so he will get plenty of opportunities to build-up his keeping workload.

"We also have a core of emerging keepers in Tom Healy and Lewin Maladay, who are both former Australian U19 players, and Isiah Snell who have been involved with national and state pathway programs in recent years and have performed well at Premier Cricket level."

Queensland are set to play a series of practice matches on the Gold Coast this week with a host of New Zealand domestic players from Auckland, including former NSW spinner Will Somerville, also featuring.