Brisbane Heat v Sydney Thunder, preview: Chris Lynn to be wrapped in cotton wool on return

THE Brisbane Heat will take measures to save Chris Lynn from his own competitive instincts if, as expected, he returns at the Gabba on Wednesday night.

Brisbane Heat’s Chris Lynn has a long history of injury.

THE Brisbane Heat will take measures to save Chris Lynn from his own competitive instincts if, as expected, he returns at the Gabba on Wednesday night.

The power hitting drawcard has been pencilled in to face the Sydney Thunder in front of what is likely to be a sellout crowd for the Heat’s second home Big Bash match of the summer.

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Lynn is set to return from shoulder surgery and a late hamstring twinge into a line-up which may also feature the return of Joe Burns, who has battled a groin strain but is considered less likely to play than Lynn.

Lynn’s career has been threatened by a series of injuries to his left shoulder. Several have occurred during training as he finds it difficult to go at anything less than full throttle.

Brisbane Heat’s Chris Lynn has a long history of injury.

But the Heat will try and place him in fielding positions where the risk of an accident diving or throwing is minimised and have reminded Lynn of the need to occasionally throttle down.

“It is probably down to Chris to manage himself,’’ Heat coach Dan Vettori said.

“The times he has got in trouble in the past he has been so committed that he has gone too hard. He may have to pull back a bit and realise he cannot go at that top end speed.

“It is on him to manage it as much as possible. We just have to keep reminding him of it.

“We don’t want him sprinting around at deep square like he did in the past. It’s going to be one of those things where he has to really manage it and find some spots which are not too high in intensity.”

Lynn, who throws left-handed, has worked with baseball coaches during his time out to improve his right-handed throwing.

Despite fielding precautions, Chris Lynn’s batting won’t be restricted.

It is not expected Lynn will have to make any concessions is his rampaging batsmanship, which has made him one of the feared enforcers of world cricket.

“He has been uninhibited in his shot-making in the nets and has looked really impressive on that front,’’ Vettori said.

The Thunder are captained by Shane Watson and contain international imports Jos Buttler, the former England Test gloveman, and pacy New Zealand fast bowler Mitchell McClenaghan.

Vettori has been impressed by the form of the Heat’s 19-year-old Pakistani leg-spinner Shadab Khan, who has taken four wickets in his two games for the Heat.

“Brendon McCullum had played with him and said you ask him to do anything and he would do it with a big smile on his face,’’ Vettori said.

“That is what we have seen from him so far. He came off after the first game and said he would fix his length for the second game and he did that. He was sublime. I could not fault him.’’