The dream of a Test return in Sri Lanka early next year on track after a red-ball return that ‘could not have gone much better’

Glenn Maxwell returned to red-ball cricket for Victoria’s second XI this week, and while his output may not have been anything to write home about, the man himself could not have been happier with the glimmer of a Test return still flickering.

It may not have been anything to write home about on paper, but Glenn Maxwell’s red-ball return “couldn’t have gone much better” according to the man himself.

And the all-rounder is now hopeful of playing at least one Sheffield Shield match before the Big Bash League break as he seeks to secure a spot for the Test tour of Sri Lanka early next year.

Maxwell played his first red-ball match in more than a year during the week when he lined up for Victoria’s second XI against the Queensland second XI at Junction Oval.

Glenn Maxwell in the field during the second XI match. Picture: Michael Klein

His output with bat and ball was hardly spectacular, with the veteran twice holing out to deep square leg for scores of 14 and 10 while taking 1-27 and 0-19 respectively across Queensland’s two innings, as well as taking a pair of second innings catches.

But for Maxwell the scores of what proved to be a drawn match were largely irrelevant. Having turned 36 on the opening day of the game, getting through four days of cricket including four straight sessions in the field was an achievement in itself given he had played just two first-class matches since breaking his leg at a friend’s party in late 2022.

“Week couldn’t have gone much better,” Maxwell told this masthead.

“I suppose the big tick of the work I put in beforehand. Just a huge tick after the week. I wanted to make sure I put myself under pressure at certain times, where I could run at the end of the day and have little moments where I’m taking off quickly in the 80th over the day, do running at different times, even going out to bat after sitting down on the sideline for a while, then having to take off and run.”

There had been discussions around Maxwell instead playing the Shield match for Victoria against NSW starting on Sunday, but in conjunction with Cricket Australia and Cricket Victoria he opted to play at the lower level before appearing in Friday’s one-dayer against the Blues before joining the national camp for white-ball series against Pakistan.

Glenn Maxwell during his last played Sheffield Shield in February 21, 2023. Picture: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

Maxwell could then in theory play one or both Shield matches against Queensland across the back of November and early December before his BBL commitments with the Melbourne Stars.

Having lost a selection call on the 2022 Test tour of Sri Lanka, Maxwell remains in the frame to play in the two-Test series due to begin in late January in what would be his first match in the baggy green since September 2017.

All seven of Maxwell’s Tests to date have come in Asia where his off-spin and ability to bat on turning decks has been held in high regard by several national selection panels.

Glenn Maxwell during his last appearance in Test cricket against Bangladesh in 2017. Picture: Robert Cianflone/Getty Images

“It all went really well, and I finished the game and just went, ‘that’s exactly what I wanted to get out of it,’” Maxwell said.

“I probably couldn’t have done that sort of testing in a Shield game. I think that would have been a bit naive to think I could go in with that sort of expectation to a Shield game. I think there’s a bit more of expected of you. And I think the fact I was able to get what I needed out of that game gives me a lot of confidence I suppose, heading towards summer.

“And if there’s an opportunity to play some Shield cricket, post the one-day series (and) T20s, I’d certainly jump all over it. But I think it was the right decision to play this game, and then the one-dayer next week, it gives me five days of cricket leading into the one-day and T20 series, and it’s nice all leading gives me enough time to do my rehab, my physio and my gym program in lead up to that. So really successful week.”

Originally published as The dream of a Test return in Sri Lanka early next year on track after a red-ball return that ‘could not have gone much better’