“He has had consistent performances in the BBL, IPL and CPL and also brings international experience”

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Australia have brought in Ben Dunk as a replacement for batsman Chris Lynn for the upcoming Twenty20 series against Sri Lanka later this month.

Lynn was sidelined for the series after aggravating a neck injury he had been recovering from while training last week.

“Chris resumed some light training as part of his rehabilitation but was still unable to function at the level he needs to play international cricket due to his existing neck injury,” Team physiotherapist Kevin Sims said. “He will be seeing a specialist later this week and from there we will have a better understanding of the ongoing management, along with the return to play time frames.”

As a result, Australia opted to call up Dunk, who finished as the top run-scorer in the recently concluded edition of the Big Bash League (BBL), where he accumulated 364 runs in eight matches for the Adelaide Strikers at an average of 52.

Dunk made his Twenty20 International debut in the three-match series against South Africa in November 2014, but after posting scores of 2, 23 and 14, he was subsequently dropped.

But, having enjoyed a lot of success in the BBL, interim chairman of selectors Trevor Hohns admitted that it was time to give the 29-year-old another chance.

“Ben was the highest run-scorer for the Big Bash in the season just gone, amassing a total of 364 runs in just 222 balls faced,” Hohns said. “He has had consistent performances in the BBL, IPL and CPL and also brings international experience to the squad.”

The three-match Twenty20 series between Australia and Sri Lanka begins on February 17 in Melbourne.