Glenn Maxwell will play Sheffield Shield for Victoria for the first time since 2019

Glenn Maxwell missed the Indian Test series but wants to get there for the ODIs and his path starts next week.

Glenn Maxwell is set for Victorian return. Picture: Jonathan DiMaggio/Getty Images

Glenn Maxwell will return to cricket for the first time since he suffered a horror broken leg last November when he turns out for Victoria’s Sheffield Shield clash with South Australia next week.

The star all-rounder missed all of the Big Bash and lost his chance to push for a place in the Australian Test squad in India when he fractured his left fibula at a friend’s 50th birthday party.

But eyeing off an international return for Australia in an ODI series against India in March, Maxwell will play his first Shield match in three years, pending a fitness test after he first plays club cricket in Melbourne on Saturday.

The first ODI against India takes place on March 17, a month from Friday, giving Maxwell ample time to prove hit fitness and readiness.

“To bring a player of Glenn‘s calibre into the squad is exciting, he has a fantastic record in Shield cricket and it’s a shame he hasn’t been able to play more of it,” Cricket Victoria head of male cricket David Hussey said.

It will be the first time Maxwell plays in the Shield for Victoria since October 2019.

.@Gmaxi_32 back in blue 👀 #SheffieldShieldpic.twitter.com/WSIltv1jrx

— Victorian Cricket Team (@VicStateCricket) February 1, 2023

Maxwell’s last game of cricket was when he made an unbeaten 54 for Australia in a T20 World Cup clash against Afghanistan on November 4 last year.

Victoria coach Chris Rogers was keen for Maxwell to play in the last Shield fixture at the MCG but was denied by the cautious medical team at Cricket Australia.

“For us (Victoria), he wants to play, that’s the most important thing,” Rogers said last week.

“He hasn‘t played a lot of it (first-class cricket) and I know he loves it when he does play.

“But equally, he brings some more leadership in this young group and for our younger guys to be playing with him, that’s excellent for them.”

Will Sutherland will again captain the Vics, with Peter Handscomb keeping his place in the Test team for the second clash with in India in Delhi.

Ten years ago it was Maxwell playing in a Test match in Delhi, opening the batting for Australia in the second innings of the 2013 match that Australia lost.

Originally published as Glenn Maxwell will play Sheffield Shield for Victoria for the first time since 2019