BREAKING: Big-hitting Chris Lynn returns to Steelbacks for 2026 T20 Blast

The free-scoring Australian has agreed to join Northants for the 2026 Vitality Blast, and will be available for the entire tournament.

Lynn, who enjoyed two run-laden seasons at Wantage Road in 2022 and 2023, replaces Matt Breetzke for the T20 campaign, with the club having announced the cancellation of the South African's two-year all-format deal on Tuesday.

The capture of Lynn will see the 35-year-old reunited with his former Brisbane Heat coach Darren Lehmann at Wantage Road.

Lynn has a reputation for being one of the most destructive white ball batters in world cricket, and Steelbacks supporters won't need reminding of his stunning unbeaten 108 from just 51 balls in the Blast semi-final defeat to Hampshire Hawks at Edgbaston last summer.

It was the first time a player had hit three figures on Finals Day, with Lynn inspiring Hawks to their six-wicket success – with his stunning knock including a 30-run over off leg-spinner Lloyd Pope.

That was Lynn's sixth century in T20 cricket, with three of his other five coming in Steelbacks colours, with all of them scored at Wantage Road, including his career-best 113 not out from 57 balls against Worcestershire in 2022.

In his first season at Northants, Lynn scored two centuries and four half-centuries as he rattled up 516 runs at an average of 64.50, and then 12 months later he hit one ton and one 50 on his way to a 364-run haul at 30.33.

For Hampshire last summer, Lynn his a century and two half centuries in his four Blast innings, scoring 222 runs at 74.00, and with a strike-rate of 198.21!

In all, Lynn has scored more than 9,000 runs in T20 cricket, adding a whopping 57 half-centuries to those six tons.

The Brisbane-born player has most recently been in action for Adelaide Strikers in the Big Bash League in Australia, and he says he can't wait to get back out on the field at the County Ground.

“I loved my time here previously and I’m looking forward to being back in front of that Wantage Road crowd,” said Lynn, who has played 18 T20 internationals for his country.

“The guys had a great tournament last year, so I want to help build on that and return to Finals Day.

“I’m also very excited to be back working with Boof, we’ve had a lot of good conversations about this year, and I can’t wait to get over there.”

Northants head coach Lehmann is delighted to have acquired the services of a player he knows very well.

“We all know the class that Lynny will bring to the side," said Lehmann. "He’s had a lot of success here and we’re hoping for more of the same this summer.

“His power and ball striking is second to none and he has the ability to take control of games very quickly.”

Lynn's signing means the Steelbacks will have two Australian overseas players for the whole of the Blast, with Nathan McSweeney already contracted for the whole summer on an all-format deal.

The Steelbacks are scheduled to begin their Vitality Blast campaign on Friday, May 22, when they host Glamorgan at the County Ground.