Glenn Maxwell’s recollection of events contested by Victoria’s former chair of selectors Andrew Lynch after explosive claim revealed in new book

An explosive claim in Glenn Maxwell’s newly released book about reasons behind his omission from the Victorian cricket team a decade ago has been vehemently denied by a former chair of selectors.

Victoria’s former selection chair has denied an explosive claim made by Glenn Maxwell that the star all-rounder was left out of a Sheffield Shield match because he had tried to move to NSW.

In his book The Showman, released this week, Maxwell details the story of his attempted shift from his home state in 2016.

He also lays bare his concerns around the culture of the Victorian team when he first entered domestic cricket a decade and a half ago.

Maxwell’s request to shift came on the back of a recommendation from then Australian high-performance chief Pat Howard after Maxwell had sought advice about how to maximise his national selection chances.

He writes that he sought a move to NSW following a meeting with Blues leader Moises Henriques but the transfer fell through because the window for nationally contracted players to change states had passed.

Glenn Maxwell met with NSW and Sixers’ captain Moises Henriques a possible move north. Picture: Morgan Hancock - CA/Cricket Australia via Getty Images

There was a dramatic twist in the weeks that followed when Maxwell missed selection for Victoria’s first Shield match of the 2016-17 season against Tasmania at the MCG at a time when he was keen to push his Test credentials.

According to Maxwell, he learnt his fate after a training session before the game.

“I was tapped on the shoulder to chat with the coach,” Maxwell wrote. “To talk tactics, I assumed.

“But Ronnie (then Victorian and now Australian coach Andrew McDonald) was there with Wadey (then Victorian captain Matthew Wade) and Andrew Lynch, chairman of selectors.

“Ronnie cut to the chase – I wasn’t playing the next day.

“What? I had led our batting averages the previous season and been told by Howard I was on the radar for Tests in the summer ahead.

“Team balance, came the response. I challenged that again.

“Lynchy, silent to that point, jumped in: ‘Well, you shouldn’t have f---ing tried to go to NSW then!’

“Ohhh. With the quiet part out loud, there was nothing left to say.”

The current Australian coach Andrew McDonald was present at the aforementioned meeting. Picture: Philip Brown/Getty Images

Lynch, who left Cricket Victoria in 2022, said on Wednesday that Maxwell’s version of events was wrong.

“His request to move to NSW played no part in him being made 12th man and it was never mentioned in our discussions when we informed him,” Lynch said.

In the book, Maxwell says Howard intervened following the selection call.

“The next morning Stoin (Marcus Stoinis) did a neck injury in the warm-up but Dan Christian was called up from grade cricket,” Maxwell wrote.

“I would remain 12th man. Once Pat Howard realised, he got in touch with the powers that be to say that if I wasn’t selected for the next game, other arrangements would be made.

“It wasn’t clear what he meant but I got recalled against Queensland and made 81 in a thumping MCG victory.”

In the book and a follow-up interview, Maxwell says he found the culture within the Victorian team “unhealthy” when he arrived 15 years ago.

Glenn Maxwell in 2012 during his early days with the Victorian squad. Picture: Supplied

“It was always said that no one abuses the Vics like their own teammates,” Maxwell said.

“And then when you get on to a field, it was like 11 Vics versus the opposition was the most brutal thing I reckon I’ve ever seen.

“And that was the change room I sort of came into. It was so uncomfortable, so unhealthy.

“But at the time, I just thought, that’s what it was like. That’s what it was always like.

“It certainly didn’t make me feel comfortable, especially from where I came from and where I grew up playing my cricket.

“It was so chilled out, relaxed out in South Belgrave and everyone’s good mates.”

Originally published as Glenn Maxwell’s recollection of events contested by Victoria’s former chair of selectors Andrew Lynch after explosive claim revealed in new book