Glenn Maxwell says he is now ready for the challenges of Test cricket

WITH his international career at a crossroads, Glenn Maxwell picked the perfect time to deliver an explosion of runs and he’s warned there is still plenty more to come.

Maxwell celebrates his century against England. (Scott Barbour/Getty Images)

GLENN Maxwell says his stunning form in the face of adversity can help relaunch an international career which appeared at the crossroads as little as two weeks ago.

Maxwell’s prolific run-scoring has come as selectors dropped him from the Test squad for the Ashes, dropped him from the ODI squad for the series against England and then left him out of the touring party for South Africa.

Batting mentor David Hussey said Maxwell deserves to be next on the plane to South Africa should Australia suffer an injury.

Barring a reprieve, Maxwell’s next chance to play Test cricket will be against Pakistan in October.

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Maxwell celebrates his century against England. (Scott Barbour/Getty Images)

Maxwell, 29, will light up his home MCG against England on Saturday night after becoming the first player to score a century and take three wickets in a Twenty20 international.

The enthralling batsman credited marathon Sheffield Shield knocks for helping rewire an over-aggressive temperament and revealed the true nature of Test captain Steve Smith’s sledge over his training habits.

“Everyone matures at different times,” Maxwell said.

“I’m glad it’s probably happened now and not in a couple of years’ time. I’ve still got plenty of years left in me in international cricket hopefully, and that’s what I’ll be looking to do in the next few years.

“This has been my best summer obviously for output of runs and consistency. There’s still a few years left in my career so hopefully I can take it to another level.”

Maxwell has continued his Big Bash form. (Phil Hillyard)

Maxwell is the summer’s No.1 Sheffield Shield run-scorer and has posted defining knocks of 40 not-out and 103 not-out in Australia’s unbeaten start to the T20 tri-series.

The slashing form has rolled on from the Big Bash, where Maxwell scored three half-centuries for Melbourne Stars at the competitions fifth-best strike-rate.

Maxwell was huddled around T20 captain David Warner’s phone when childhood hero Ricky Ponting bought him for $1.75m in the Indian Premier League auction.

Ponting, coach of Delhi Daredevils, marked Maxwell a high priority and told the Herald Sun he is the man to get the best out of Maxwell.

The former Australian captain is working as Darren Lehmann’s assistant for the T20 series and has helped Maxwell prepare for the first two matches.

“I’ve made it pretty public that he’s one of my childhood idols and to have him in my corner and backing me is awesome,” Maxwell said. “He’s been outstanding.”

Maxwell was disappointed his rich form had not translated to team success at Victoria Bushrangers or the Stars.

“If I’m contributing to wins I’m going well, so there’s obviously still a lot of room for improvement,” he said.

“It’s been great to start this T20 series off with two knocks that had some sort of substance to help the team.”

The all-rounder was listening to radio commentary of the Bushrangers’ match against South Australia when Australia landed in Melbourne from Hobart.

Smith said Maxwell needed to train “smarter” after he was dumped from the ODI squad before last month’s series against England. The pair then met for coffee but had previously refused to divulge what was said.

“He was talking about one-day cricket, and the (comments) were probably justified,” Maxwell said.

“As a No.6 it’s awkward to prepare for, because you go in with about 15 or 16 different scenarios. He wasn’t talking about my Sheffield Shield preparation (and) he wasn’t talking about my BBL preparation.”