IPL-2018: Business as usual for fit-again Lynn, Johnson opts out of practice

Kolkata April 2 (IANS) Having recovered sufficiently from a dislocated shoulder injury he picked up during the recent T20I tri-series with England and New Zealand it was business as usual for explosive opener Chris Lynn during Kolkata Knight Riders first practice game ahead of their Indian Premier League (IPL) opener on Sunday.

Two-time winners KKR take on Virat Kohli-led Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) at the Eden Gardens to kickstart their campaign under newly-appointed captain Dinesh Karthik.

On Monday the men in purple rehearsed with almost the entire squad sans Aussie pacer Mitchell Johnson who arrived on Monday and opted to take the day off but Lynn was the cynosure of all eyes.

The T20 specialist who took the IPL by storm last season for KKR looked in fine fettle as he clobbered a few big sixes while batting in the practice game and sweated it out on the field too.

Lynn s history of shoulder problems has led to the Queenslander practising in the nets back home with a specially-designed shoulder stabiliser that rugby league star Johnathan Thurston has given him.

"The docs and the physios are happy so that s all I can do and can keep going in the right direction. I m doing everything I can to get back out there " Lynn had told Cricket Australia.

Sunil Narine who was reported for a suspect action yet again in the Pakistan Super League last month was also seen bowling as were Kuldeep Yadav and Piyush Chawla.

Well-known adventurer and explorer Mike Horn who has worked with KKR before was also seen on the sidelines of their training session.

--IANS
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