Cricket: Big hitting Australian ruled out of NZ series

Australian batsman Chris Lynn has been ruled out for the rest of the series against Pakistan and the upcoming one-day tour of New Zealand because of a neck injury.

The star batsman made his ODI debut in the series-opening win over Pakistan on January 13, but the pain from a bulging disc in his neck has gotten worse and he's been ordered to rest.

Lynn has proved to be one of the most devastating hitters in world cricket, starring alongside Brendon McCullum with the Brisbane Heat in the Big Bash T20 league.

Australian coach Darren Lehmann is hopeful Lynn will return for the home T20 series against Sri Lanka, starting on February 17, but fortunately for Black Caps fans he will not be in action against New Zealand.

"He's been playing through a lot of pain even during the BBL and he's got to the stage where he can't function anymore," coach Darren Lehmann said in Perth.

"He'll have a couple of weeks of no cricket ... he's got to calm down the neck because it's quite aggravated.

"He'll start his rehab now and he won't be doing too much strenuous stuff before he hopefully gets back for the Sri Lankan series."

- AAP