Glenn Maxwell’s comeback to red-ball cricket was short of runs, wickets and spectators – but it was also just what the doctor ordered in his quest to return to the baggy green.
Playing in his first longer-form game on these shores since the start of last year, Maxwell made just 14 off 19 balls, including hitting a six off his first delivery, to go with 1/27 from six overs in a nondescript performance that matched the occasion.
Glenn Maxwell made his return to red-ball cricket for Victoria’s second XI.Credit: Cricket Australia
Maxwell may be one of the most-recognised faces in the international game, but there would not have been many more than a dozen fans on hand to watch him ply his trade for Victoria’s second XI at the Junction Oval on Tuesday. Aptly, Maxwell’s name was entered as “Fill-in” in Cricket Australia’s online scoring portal.
Form has traditionally been the most important factor in playing for Australia, but in Maxwell’s case it’s only part of the equation.
Though Maxwell played the last of his seven Tests in 2017, he remains firmly in Australia’s plans for next year’s tour of Sri Lanka, where his dynamic batting and useful off-breaks are suited to the raging turners often rolled out on the island nation.
Glenn Maxwell was listed as “Fill-in” on Cricket Australia’s official scorecard.Credit: Cricket Australia
The Victorian dynamo has repeatedly proven his prowess in Asia but national selectors want to see that Maxwell, who suffered a serious broken leg in November 2022 at a friend’s 50th, can withstand the rigours of back-to-back days in the field – a hurdle he does not have to overcome in the limited-overs formats even if they are played at a much-higher intensity.
Maxwell, who turned 36 this week, has played just two red-ball matches since his freak injury – for Victoria at the start of 2023, and in July for Kent in England’s county competition. Though it is nearly two years since Maxwell suffered that injury, CA is still closely managing his workloads.
Maxwell is unlikely to play in Victoria’s Shield game, starting on Sunday at the MCG, according to two cricket sources with knowledge of his schedule, but is set to line up next week in the one-day competition as a tune-up for the white-ball series against Pakistan.
There is also consideration being given to resting Maxwell from Big Bash League games for the Melbourne Stars.
Selectors are open to a horses-for-courses policy when it comes to selecting Test teams in Asia. Victoria’s Peter Handscomb was recalled for the tour of India last year because of his ability to play in spin-friendly conditions but was left out of the Ashes, despite a strong series on the subcontinent.
Maxwell was on standby for Australia’s last tour of Sri Lanka in 2022 only to miss out when Travis Head proved his fitness at the 11th hour, and was earmarked for a role last year in India before breaking his leg.
Despite being a proven match-winner in the shorter formats all around the world, Maxwell has rarely been in Test consideration at home due to perceived weaknesses against pace bowling and the short ball.
The closest he came to a home Test was in the 2017/18 Ashes when he was called in for cover in Brisbane after injury scares to Shaun Marsh and David Warner.
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