Glenn Maxwell and Will Sutherland named for Victoria Second XI game

An Australian star will make a rare off-Broadway appearance to strengthen his claims for next year’s Test tour of Sri Lanka.

Glenn Maxwell will need to search for his white pads as he pushes for a Sheffield Shield appearance with a rare second XI game for Victoria next week.

Maxwell will be joined by state captain Will Sutherland at the Junction Oval on Monday for a four-day clash against Queensland, which will come before a potential Shield appearance against New South Wales at the MCG the following Sunday.

The lower level game looms as a key appearance in the 35-year-old’s bid to play his first Test match since 2017, with Australian selectors interested in picking Maxwell for February’s tour of Sri Lanka.

Veteran all-rounder Glenn Maxwell will make a rare appearance in Victoria’s second XI against Queensland on Monday. Picture: Quinn Rooney / Getty Images

Maxwell, who has only played two professional red-ball matches since the end of 2019, told this masthead in August he was eager to prove he could get his body through four consecutive days of cricket.

He said he was still dealing with pain from the broken leg he suffered at a friend’s 50th birthday in November 2022, which ultimately cost him a chance to play in the Test tour of India three months later.

“It would be great if I could get my body into a position where I can play over (in Sri Lanka), but as far as Shield cricket, I’m not sure how much they’ll take that into consideration, and whether or not I need to prove I can get through four days of cricket before I play Test cricket,” he said.

Victorian captain Will Sutherland will lead the second XI side as he works back to a full bowling load. Picture: Morgan Hancock / Getty Images

“Hopefully my body’s going really well and I can put my hand up for the Test stuff as well, but there’s still a lot of work left to do and a lot of boxes to tick before then.”

Sutherland will lead the second XI side after he missed selection for the Shield clash against Tasmania as a specialist batter.

The all-rounder has been slowly building up his bowling loads as he returns from a back stress fracture, and bowled some overs during Victoria’s early One-Day Cup games.

Former Australian under-19s star Harry Dixon has also been named in the squad to face Queensland.

The October 20 Shield clash could be Maxwell’s only chance to play a first-class game before Australia’s white-ball series against Pakistan begins on November 4.

The two sides will play three ODIs and three T20s before India arrives for the five-match Test series.

Originally published as Glenn Maxwell and Will Sutherland named for Victoria Second XI game