Glenn Maxwell was forced to leave the field with a wrist complaint during Victoria’s Sheffield Shield clash against South Australia at Junction Oval, marring his long-awaited return to red-ball cricket.
The 34-year-old was struck on the wrist while fielding at first slip on Tuesday morning, immediately dropping to the floor in noticeable discomfort — he left the field clutching his arm and didn’t return for the remainder of South Australia’s first innings.
A Cricket Victoria spokesperson confirmed Maxwell has been cleared of any fractures after undergoing scans, with medical staff assessing whether he can bat in the second innings.
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Maxwell, who scored 5 in the first innings, recently recovered from a broken leg that kept him sidelined for the entire Big Bash League.
“I don’t think ‘Maxi’ drinks enough milk,” cricket commentator Adam White told SEN Mornings.
“He had the broken leg and now there’s genuine fears he may have a fracture in his wrist.
“He’s left the field, he’s spent a fair bit of time with the medicos, it’s just a question now to (what the injury is).
“It is cold down here, so maybe it’s just a bruise and he can go back out there.
“But at this stage he’s being assessed … there was a flurry of activity with the Victorian medical team, the Australian medical officer’s down there as well.
“So, fingers crossed, but it didn’t look good, he was in a lot of pain as he left the field.”
South Australia was bowled out for 114 on Tuesday morning, giving Victoria a 55-run lead in the first innings — Victorian seamer Fergus O’Neill claimed career-best figures of 4-28, while Mitchell Perry snared three wickets.
Maxwell has not played Sheffield Shield since October 2019, with international commitments preventing him from plying his trade in the first-class competition.
“It’s been a pretty long journey over the last three-and-a-half months, so a lot of early morning sessions, gym, rehab, pool sessions, physio,” he told reporters on Sunday.
“To feel like I am at the back-end of that now and able to play some cricket is something I’m proud of.
“I think probably 80 per cent. I have a fair bit to go until I am fully fit for a one-day game, which is what I’m working towards.
“I won’t bowl, I’m still building up my loads and getting that natural body movement muscle memory going.
“As far as the batting and time on feet goes, I have done a lot of work behind the scenes to get myself ready, so it’s a small step in the comeback.
“I think I’m trying not to put nay expectations in it … it has been a long time since I’ve played in this format.”
Maxwell is targeting an international return at next month’s ODI series in India, which gets underway on March 17.
