Glenn Maxwell’s Australia Ashes squad snubbing smacks of disrespect, writes Russell Gould

GLENN Maxwell could not be more on the outs it seems — without having done much wrong. Omitted from the Australia squad he wasn’t even afforded an acknowledgment.

YOU would like to think and hope that this is not the end of Glenn Maxwell’s Test career.

But his omission from the squad for the first Ashes clash at the Gabba, as the incumbent number six batsman, without having done much wrong, and the manner in which he has been treated smacks of disrespect.

That Maxwell, who played the past four Tests for Australia and scored his maiden hundred in India this year, was not even recorded as an omission from the team in the official press release is evidence of just how far off the selectors radar he was.

Maxwell did more in those four tests than opener Matthew Renshaw and keeper Matthew Wade but wasn’t afforded the same “thanks for your efforts” from chairman of selectors Trevor Hohns as they were.

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Not sure @Gmaxi_32 could be any more on the outs - played past four tests and no mention at all on @CAComms team release out now

— Russell Gould (@gouldyheraldsun) November 16, 2017

That’s about as on the “outs” as you can get and leaves just reliable Peter Handscomb as the lone Victorian in the ashes squad, with no other Bushrangers even really in contention.

For all his undoubted talent, Maxwell just never seemed the right fit in Steve Smith’s side, a side still finding its way, a side in need of some consistent, winning results.

LISTEN! In a special episode of Cricket Unfiltered we analyse Australia’s controversial Test team for the first Ashes Test. Download Cricket Unfiltered from the iTunes store HERE

Plenty of former players wanted to back the man known as “Maxy” to keep the spot he held for four Tests through India and Bangaladesh, having proven, with a durable maiden Test hundred in Ranchi in March, that he was made of the stern stuff required to make it in the five-day game.

His last innings, against Bangladesh in Chittagong in September, was 25 not out. It could have been another hundred given more time at the crease.

Glenn Maxwell of Victoria.

But it wasn’t, and with no massive scores in the three Sheffield Shield games to start this summer, despite twin 60s, undone by “unusual” dismissals, plus the run onslaught from West Australian Cameron Bancroft, selectors got the chance they wanted to give Maxwell the bullet.

The national team is in a curious place right now.

There is too much speculation about captain Steve Smith getting his own input for players he “likes” to get picked, for it to be completely wrong.

actually it’s incredibly disrespectful to a bloke who scored a test hundred this year - Renshaw and Wade got a thanks

— Russell Gould (@gouldyheraldsun) November 16, 2017

Maxwell, for whatever reason, isn’t in that group, according to plenty who should know.

It’s not just Smith either.

Maxwell has been the easiest player for selectors to drop from the one-day side too. It happened last summer, then again in India this year.

They all know how good he is, but it doesn’t take much for him to be off-side with the decision makers.

He’s not abrasive, in fact he’s quite the opposite. Maxwell is approachable, affable and enthusiastic about the game, but maybe distracted too.

The cricket world regards him as an enigma, capable of the extraordinary one minute, and the ordinary the next.

But it’s that enigmatic nature, which flows on to his batting, that doesn’t sit well with the process driven nature of the current Australian selection mantra.

They want a rock at number six, fearing the newish top and middle order is still prone to the odd collapse.

Sure, Maxwell would be great for a run a ball 70 with the Aussies 3-300. But what about at 3-43?

So they turned to Shaun Marsh, for his eighth chance. That screams reliability doesn’t it.

Maxwell said at the MCG on Wednesday that he definitely wanted a “crack” at a maiden Test in Australia. But he also had no contact with national selector Mark Waugh, who was at the ground for two days watching Tasmanian bat Victoria in to submission.

Waugh didn’t even feel the need to go to the locker rooms and say “g’day”, to give Maxwell some feedback, any feedback.

Meanwhile in Brisbane Renshaw, who has made less Shield runs than Maxwell this summer, was getting a pep-talk from coach Darren Lehmann and high performance manager Pat Howard.

Renshaw was even given a net session with the Aussie fast bowling brigade.

Test spinner Nathan Lyon said Renshaw was part of the “inner sanctum” and, at 21, was a part of the Aussie set-up.

And then Renshaw was dropped.

Maxwell meanwhile shrugged his shoulders and said he had “no idea” where he sat in the pecking order.

His non selection today tells us it’s not high, and probably won’t be climbing any time soon.

LISTEN! On our new CRICKET UNFILTERED podcast, Ian Chappell explains his reasons for omitting Steve Waugh from his list of Ashes greats and Robert “Crash” Craddock provides his unique insight into the battle for the urn.