Lynn targets IPL opener, JLT Cup

Australia T20 star Chris Lynn says he's on track to be available for the start of the Indian Premier League in two weeks and has revealed he’s hopeful of pulling on a Queensland shirt later this year.

In a bid to protect his troublesome left shoulder while fielding during Australia's T20 tri-series last month, the luckless Lynn dislocated his right shoulder when he landed awkwardly diving to stop a ball in the inner ring.

He was ruled out of a stint in the Pakistan Super League T20 tournament and set the goal of honouring his monster $1.85 million contract with Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL.

Lynn has recently resumed throwing with his dominant left arm and after returning to light batting duties in the nets, he'll be right to take on fellow Queenslanders with IPL contracts Billy Stanlake (Sunrisers Hyderabad) and Ben Cutting (Mumbai Indians) next week.

"It's tracking really nicely," Lynn told cricket.com.au of his recovery. "It's a short turnaround with the timeframe that we've got but it's all going well.

"The docs and the physios are happy so that's all I can do. Fingers crossed I can keep going in the right direction and try to make myself available for the first game of the IPL.

"If not, it's not the end of the world but I'm doing everything I can to get back out there.

"I've had a bat during the week just on throwdowns, so I'll ramp it up next week against 'Cuttsy' and Billy Stanlake. If I can get through those two blokes, I'll know I'm going okay."

While a return to first-class cricket remains off the table for now (despite admitting some jealousy for the Queensland side involved in this week’s Sheffield Shield final), Lynn expressed a desire to play for the Bulls in next season’s domestic one-day competition for the first time in five years.

Lynn hasn't played an official 50-over match since his ODI debut in January last year and but was named in Australia's squad for the Champions Trophy later in 2017, as well as the Gillette ODI series against England this summer before a minor leg injury ruled him out.

The 27-year-old is yet to talk to Queensland Cricket about a contract for 2018-19, having not taken one up at the beginning of the ongoing season as he recovered from major shoulder surgery, but said Bulls coach Wade Seccombe is keen for him to be involved with the squad.

"I haven't spoken about the contract side of things but they definitely want me to be involved in the JLT Cup," Lynn continued. "That's something we'll talk about down the track.

"The boys and Wade Seccombe definitely want me around the group which is a positive sign.

"If I can impact the boys in a positive way not only through my batting and through the nets sessions but also off the field, then I'm more than happy to do that.

"They're a great bunch of guys and you've seen how much fun they've been having."

Although Lynn's latest injury was cruelly caused by his effort to protect his left shoulder, medical staff have given him firm 'no diving' instructions for future games.

It's no major change to how he's approached fielding since returning from a third major left shoulder injury in two years this summer, but his latest setback has been meant that message has well and truly sunk in.

"I was trying to cover my left arm because I knew if I did that again, god knows what's going to happen," Lynn said.

"I was trying to compensate for it and that's when it popped out, I put myself in a vulnerable position, which I wouldn’t have done if I had two good shoulders.

"There's some strict and stern words of no diving (from medical staff), every hour of the day I get those words thrown at me.

"I just want to play some cricket – I've missed so much cricket over the last three years.

"It's happened and I'll definitely learn from that. Now I can't dive at all on any side – I'm going to struggle because I'm such a competitive person but I've got to come to the realisation that if I want to keep playing cricket for a number of years, I can't dive.

"It sucks, it kills me on the inside but it is what is."