ODI snub: Glenn Maxwell poised to really get the message from selectors
GLENN Maxwell staged a desperate 11th hour bid for a recall to Australia’s one-day squad but selectors still appeared likely to overlook the World Cup winner.
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GLENN Maxwell staged a desperate 11th hour bid for a recall to Australia’s one-day squad on Tuesday night, but selectors still appeared likely to overlook the World Cup winner.
Recently appointed Twenty20 assistant coach Ricky Ponting said on Ten commentary that Australia “had” to pick Maxwell, as the Big Show ignited under pressure with a quick-fire 60 for the Melbourne Stars.
Controversially axed for a physically impaired Chris Lynn in the first place, Maxwell was tipped to be brushed again even now that Lynn has been ruled out with injury — that is unless last night’s innings at Adelaide Oval prompted a late unexpected backflip.
Selectors are yet to make a call but with the squad to arrive in Melbourne on Wednesday a decision can’t be far away.
The panel seems intent on sending a strong message to Maxwell that he must show improvement before being considered for international selection again, with Ashton Turner, Peter Handscomb, D’Arcy Short and Cameron White emerging as potential candidates.
Shaun Marsh is no chance of being considered after he pulled up from the Ashes with a quad strain that will sideline him from BBL action for the Perth Scorchers.
Marsh experienced some quad soreness the day before the Test, before going on to make a massive hundred.
It was a massive effort for Marsh to get through five Tests given his history of lower back and hamstring problems, and the fact he was sore on the eve of the Ashes opener in Brisbane.
If selectors want to send a wake-up call to Maxwell, then they’ve botched its delivery by originally selecting a player in Lynn who couldn’t throw and freely admitted wasn’t ready for 50-over cricket.
If selectors overlook Maxwell they’ll have to explain how another player around the country deserves selection ahead of the top Sheffield Shield run-scorer and a player who is a proven matchwinner at ODI level.
If left out a second time it would become brutally clear to Maxwell that his omission has nothing to do with other talent demanding a selection, but purely his own form and attitude problems as perceived by the Australian camp.
“We’ll talk about Glenn and other players and work out who the replacement is,” said coach, Darren Lehmann.
Veteran White, aged 34 and without an international cap since 2015, could be among the options to come in for Lynn after yet another season of domestic dominance.
“It’s always good to keep (form) rolling,” said White.
“There’s a vacancy (in the ODI team). I haven’t heard anything.
“I honestly don’t know. You’d have to ask the selectors, I couldn’t tell you.
“I feel pretty much the same as I’ve felt for the last couple of years in white-ball cricket. I’m batting with a pretty clear mind and watching the ball and playing it on its merits.”
West Australian young gun Turner must also be a serious proposition based on his stunning form for the Perth Scorchers in the BBL, although like Lynn, he has shoulder problems that are limiting his ability in the field and he could be set for surgery at the end of the summer.
Brad Hogg said Turner had the brain to be a future Australian captain and he’s been in CA’s sights for years.
Young West Australian Short is a favourite of selectors, but he’s more likely for Australia’s Twenty20 tri-series in February.
Handscomb must also be an option given he was in Australia’s last ODI squad which toured India.
Australia’s fast bowling attack has gotten through an arduous home Ashes summer relatively unscathed, with Mitchell Starc showing no obvious discomfort with the bruised heel that had kept him out of the previous Boxing Day Test.
Selectors will have a plan drawn up to intermittently rest their fast bowlers throughout the five-match ODI series and they’ll be keen to have a look at young West Australian quick Jhye Richardson who is a bolter for the South African Test series.
Starc will be rested at stages, but will build up to South Africa through the one-dayers.
“He wasn’t too bad, he got better as the game went on,” said Lehmann of Starc’s fitness.
“His pace was down day one (of the Sydney Test) but then started to pick up some confidence.
“I would think he won’t play all the one dayers, but he’ll certainly play some of them.”
Skyscraping Queenslander Billy Stanlake could be a candidate for selectors if they need an extra bowling option to help balance the resting of Starc, Cummins and Hazlewood.
Originally published as ODI snub: Glenn Maxwell poised to really get the message from selectors
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