The Ashes 2021/22: Glenn Maxwell told not to give up on Test cricket

More than four years after his last Test match, Glenn Maxwell has been told he could be needed — and soon.

BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA – NOVEMBER 28: Ben Stokes looks on during an England Ashes Squad nets session at The Gabba on November 28, 2021 in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)

Glenn Maxwell says selectors have told him his Test career is not over because Cricket Australia will rotate players to help navigate a rush of upcoming subcontinent tours.

The Twenty20 superstar is unavailable for March’s tour of Pakistan because he is getting married, but the Aussies are expected to play Tests in Sri Lanka next year and in India in 2023.

“I’ve been told (by selectors) next year is a heavy subcontinent tour year and there could be opportunities with guys coming in and out,” Maxwell said on Friday.

“There’s a lot of cricket next year and you don’t want to burn guys out throughout the season.”

“There might be a host of changes.”

The England Cricket Board implemented a rotation policy to help manage bubble fatigue but it backfired as players flew in and out a series in India it lost 3-1.

Maxwell, 33, has not played first-class in more than two years and flew to Sydney on Friday to prepare for Melbourne Stars’ season-opener against Sydney Sixers on Sunday night.

But key signing Joe Burns (knee) and Billy Stanlake (back) were not on the flight.

Burns is expected to miss two weeks after having an arthroscopic clean-out and, while Stanlake will link up with the green team, he is set to miss the entire season with a stress fracture.

Glenn Maxwell has been told to keep his Test ambitions alive.

Stars coach David Hussey wants leg-spinners Adam Zampa, Qais Ahmed (Afghanistan) and Syed Faridoun (Pakistan) to bowl together because Aussie batters struggle against spin.

“(Faridoun) actually bowled left-arm off-spin 18 months ago and then Pakistan Cricket Board basically said, ‘No, you don’t spin the ball enough, try leg-spin’,” Hussey said.

Stars general manager Blair Crouch is working feverishly to sign-off on two more marquee international signings, although is encountering logistical problems arising from reinstated quarantine measures and strengthened CA protocols.

Maxwell invited several superstars to join the Stars at the recent T20 World Cup as his team looks to finally break its Big Bash League hoodoo.

Stars bosses expect their MCG games in January to remain after receiving an indication that the fifth Ashes Test would not be relocated from Perth to Melbourne, with Hobart the surprise frontrunner.”

Maxwell (left) celebrates a wicket with Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyon.

Maxwell was rushed into the Ashes squad exactly four years ago as cover for Shaun Marsh but has never played a home Test match and has not been picked since the 2017 tour of Bangladesh.

“I probably didn’t make as many runs as I would’ve liked (in Bangladesh) but still felt like I was playing well enough to hopefully be picked,” Maxwell said.

“But they said it was a clean slate after that series and everything was up for grabs and unfortunately I probably didn’t quite make enough runs in those first two or three Shield games.

“I think it’s (playing Test cricket again) definitely realistic. I think I’m playing as well as I ever have at the moment.

“I feel really good about my game, I’ve been able to work on different techniques for different formats, which has really helped going forward, and am in constant contact with the selectors.

“They’ve been really clear about if opportunities do come up I’m ready for red-ball if it does.”

Maxwell shed more light on the time he almost made a shock Test debut in the 2012 Boxing Day Test in front of 67,138.

“I got called in as cover but no one knew, because I had to hand my phone in,” Maxwell said.

“They only told me once I got inside the change room and if ‘Watto’ (Shane Watson) didn’t come through a fitness test (hamstring) I would’ve played a Boxing Day Test and my family would’ve turned the TV on and gone, ‘What’s going on?’”

Maxwell hasn’t played a Test since the 2017 tour of Bangladesh.

POMS VOW NOT TO SLEDGE AUSSIES OVER PAINE SAGA

Robert Craddock

English all-rounder Chris Woakes believes the Ashes will rise above the threat of sledging over the Tim Paine and racism scandals that have rocked both teams in the countdown to the series.

Australia was floored by the sexting scandal that saw captain Tim Paine withdraw from the team while England confronted allegations of racial sledging at Yorkshire, the home county of touring captain Joe Root.

Both issues are highly sensitive and there have been eras when acid-tongued fieldsmen would have probed the wounds, but Woakes is confident the series, which starts at the Gabba next month, will not be dragged into the gutter.

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Tim Paine won’t be targeted by the Poms in this Ashes series.

“What has happened in both camps is that a lot of the issues are personal and cricket is played best when that sort of stuff is left to the side and we let the skills do the talking,’’ Woakes said, as his England squad mates gained precious match practice at Ian Healy Oval.

“I am sure that will happen. Ashes series always raises that rivalry, which is great, but in my experience in three Ashes series, no-one has overstepped the line once since I have been around.

“I don’t see it being any different. I am sure the cricket will be hard fought. It always is. Hopefully it is a great series to watch.’’

All-rounder Ben Stokes returned to the bowling crease looking fit and sharp following his extended break from the game, taking a wicket after lunch and bowling swiftly enough for keeper Jos Buttler to stand almost a pitch length behind the stumps.

Veterans Stuart Broad and Jimmy Anderson joined Stokes and Ollie Robinson in a pace attack that seemed a strong pointer to the one England will choose for the Gabba next week. They went wicketless in the first session but the spongy run-ups meant they were occasionally forced to bowl within themselves.

Anderson is certain to play the second Test – a pink ball day-nighter in Adelaide – but if he is left out in Brisbane, it could be to squeeze in lively quick Mark Wood.

Chris Woakes says cricket is best played when ‘that personal stuff is left to the side.’

Woakes’ career is the embodiment of many English seam bowlers to visit Australia. He averages a world-class 22 runs per wicket at home, but a whopping 51 abroad where he is confronted by challenges such as the unsympathetic Kookaburra balls used in Australia.

“Obviously the Kookaburra is very different to the Duke and what we are used to back home. We have a lot of guys here who have used the Kookaburra around the world.

“We touch base with those guys as to what works in the past. You try different things. To get the ball moving sideways is obviously the biggest challenge. You have to be prepared to change your game a little.’’