Glenn Maxwell will make his return to cricket for the Melbourne Stars in the BBL
Glenn Maxwell has been closing in on making his return to cricket for some time. However, after a close call with the Shield team earlier this month, his new comeback game is locked in.
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Glenn Maxwell will return from a six-week mental health break when he captains Melbourne Stars in their Big Bash season-opener next Friday night.
The Herald Sun understands Maxwell, 31, made himself available for selection for Victoria’s Sheffield Shield match against Western Australia on Saturday, but he did not make the final team.
It is understood selectors erred on the side of caution by giving Maxwell one more week out of the spotlight, although that first-class match was ultimately abandoned due to the MCG’s dangerous pitch.
While Maxwell put his hand up for Victoria, a report from his mental health specialist suggested he was close – but not quite at – 100 per cent.
Those reports often come using a green, yellow and red traffic light system and, under that method, Maxwell would probably have been assessed as close to a full green.
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However, given the slight conjecture over Maxwell’s wellbeing, and the fact that he should be available for Victoria’s final four Sheffield Shield matches when the season resumes in February, selectors saw no harm in leaving Maxwell out.
But given Maxwell was so close to playing for Victoria on Saturday, receiving medical clearance to lead the green team this season will be a formality.
That shapes as a huge boost to both the Stars and the BBL overall given Maxwell’s enormous pulling power and box-office style.
Maxwell has been in and out of Cricket Victoria’s Junction Oval base recently and has been ticked off to retain the Stars’ captaincy after leading the franchise to last summer’s BBL final.
While Maxwell went unselected by Victoria, he has been playing Premier Cricket for Fitzroy-Doncaster.
The brilliant all-rounder made 51 (56) and took 3-42 (29 overs) against Frankston Peninsula in a two-day match completed on Saturday.
Maxwell rocked the cricketing world when he pulled out of Australia’s Twenty20 squad just days after demolishing Sri Lanka with 62 (28).
The Victorian’s mental health was up and down in November and the much-needed break followed a ridiculous workload where Maxwell spent close to eight consecutive months overseas.
New Zealand captain Kane Williamson joined the number of prominent voices praising Victorians Maxwell, Nic Maddinson and Will Pucovski for taking time out of the game to prioritise their wellbeing.
“It’s great those guys have been able to speak out and make it a real thing,” Williamson told the Herald Sun.
“Because it’s a challenge – not just in cricket — but certainly you’re susceptible in professional sport.
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“We’re very fortunate to do what we do, but there’s probably a lot of parts to it that are challenging and demanding and perhaps encourage some of those things.”
Williamson is staunchly against social media and Maxwell’s long-time teammate John Hastings recently linked the constant Twitter abuse Maxwell receives to his mental health.
Maddinson and Pucovski both returned for Victoria in recent weeks.