Lynn not offered a Queensland contract for next season

Queensland have not offered a state contract to Chris Lynn as Australian states wrestle with how to contract limited-overs specialists.

In the 2018-19 season, Lynn was the leading run-scorer in the JLT Cup, Australia's 50-over domestic competition, making 452 runs at 75.33, including two centuries and striking at 117.70. He was selected in Australia's ODI side for the three-match series against South Africa last November and at the time was seen as a key component to Australia's World Cup chances.

But after modest returns in that series he was dropped from the ODI set-up and was not considered for the World Cup squad and for the 50-over A squad that will tour the UK during the World Cup.

Queensland released their 2019-20 contract list on Wednesday and Lynn was a notable absentee after being a late addition to the list in 2018-19. Bulls' coach Wade Seccombe stated Lynn remained an important part of Queensland's plans for 2019-20 despite not being contracted.

"Chris is very much in our thinking for our one-day set-up in light of his performances last summer and we will work closely with him in the lead-up to the season once again," Seccombe said.

The JLT Cup is expected to shift from a month-long tournament format at the start of the season to being interspersed with the Sheffield Shield across the summer, making it harder for states to predict player availability. Lynn hasn't played a Sheffield Shield match since March 2017, instead opting to focus on playing franchise T20 cricket globally.

ESPNcricinfo is aware of at least one other state that had an issue negotiating a contract with a white-ball specialist for the 2019-20 domestic season. English county cricket has white-ball contracts to allow players to be signed for T20s and 50-over cricket only, but with separate BBL franchises and contracts there is no such provision for Australian states at present under the current contracting system. Non-contracted players can be upgraded to full contracts during the season. Lynn would only need to play four List A matches to qualify for a contract on that basis.

Alister McDermott, son of former Queensland and Australia quick Craig McDermott, has been awarded a contract after three years out of the Bulls squad. Exciting young batsman Max Bryant and left-arm spinner Matthew Kuhnemann have been upgraded to full contracts from rookie deals last year.

Veteran fast bowler Luke Feldman announced his retirement at the end of the Sheffield Shield season while Peter George and Sam Truloff missed out on contracts for 2019-20.

Queensland Men's 2019-20 Squad: Usman Khawaja, Xavier Bartlett, Max Bryant, Joe Burns, Brendan Doggett, Cameron Gannon, Sam Heazlett, Charlie Hemphrey, Matt Kuhnemann, Marnus Labuschagne, Alister McDermott, Michael Neser, James Peirson, Lachlan Pfeffer, Jack Prestwidge, Matt Renshaw, Billy Stanlake, Mark Steketee, Mitch Swepson, Jack Wildermuth Rookies Blake Edwards, Corey Hunter, Nathan McSweeney, Bryce Street, Connor Sully, Matthew Willans