Aaron Finch throws support behind Glenn Maxwell, who selectors continue to overlook

AARON Final says state teammates Glenn Maxwell is batting better than ever but national experimentation could cost him a return to the one-day team.

Glenn Maxwell has been overlooked by selectors. Picture: Getty Images

NATIONAL experimentation could cost Glenn Maxwell a return to the one-day team but Aussie opener Aaron Finch has declared his state teammate is batting betting than ever.

Selectors delayed naming a replacement for the injured Chris Lynn, opting instead to watch Big Bash games on Wednesday and Thursday with several potential replacements on show ahead of Sunday’s opening ODI clash with England at the MCG.

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That includes on-fire Queenslander Joe Burns as well as untried duo D’Arcy Short and Ashton Turner who both fit the brief of selection panel chairman Trevor Hohns.

He has declared he wants to build a squad capable of winning the 2019 World Cup in England.

Finch conceded that plenty of new faces could find themselves playing around “bankers” like captain Steve Smith and his opening partner David Warner in the 29 one-day games Australia is scheduled to play before next year’s tournament.

That policy could potentially count against Maxwell, who was dumped last week, and his cause wasn’t helped by a public dressing down from Smith who questioned the Victorian’s training habits and his lack of consistency.

Glenn Maxwell is batting as good as ever but can’t get a look in Australia’s one-day squad. Picture: Getty Images

But on the back of former Aussie captain Ricky Ponting declaring Maxwell the best option to replace Lynn, Finch said the enigmatic Victorian had displayed all the traits of a mature cricketer both in training and by answering his critics with a bagload of runs in the Sheffield Shield and the Big Bash.

“The way that he’s batting is as good as I have seen him in terms of his tempo. He has changed a little bit from being all guns blazing from the first ball to giving himself a little bit of time,” Finch said.

“In the lead up to the Shield season his training was fantastic and I think his results have reflected that in terms of the pure output of runs. You can’t really argue with a couple of 60s, a 280 (278) then a 96 in three back-to-back games in the Shield.”

Maxwell played a lone hand for his underperforming Stars on Tuesday night, pounding 60 from just 39 balls, his second half-century in three innings since his one-day dumping.

He dismissed his axing as a driving force, but said he would take the opportunity when Smith comes to Melbourne this week to have a face-to-face chat about the captain’s comments.

“I’ll address that with Steven personally. I’m sure there were only good intentions behind it, he was only trying to get the best out of me,” Maxwell said.

“There’s not much you can say to a guy who is second best to the Don. I’ll listen to him and I’ll be doing my best to get on his right side and play for Australia.

“We get along really well. We have got a good friendship. I’m sure it will be fine.”

Despite his preference for Maxwell to replace Lynn, Finch conceded there were “plenty” of players who could slot in to the Australian middle order, which was a “good position to be in”.

Glenn Maxwell and Aaron Finch with the World Cup trophy in 2015. Picture: Wayne Ludbey

But he said Maxwell had the numbers on the board, now and in past Australian performances, including a leading role in the 2015 World Cup win.

“He had a great World Cup last time. I think he averaged in the mid-60s (64.8) with a strike rate of 130, which in the 50-over format is pretty amazing,” Finch said.

“I caught up with him after the derby (last Saturday). He was obviously disappointed, he backs his ability and backs his game to be very successful at international level.

“It’s one of those things, he knows averaging 22 over his past 20 games wasn’t what the side needed from him.

“But saying that he’s gone back … he’s peeled off runs and that’s all you can do. They say make runs, make a statement, and he has certainly done that.”