Globe-trotting allrounder Glenn Maxwell believes his best chance of a Test recall is in the middle order.
Maxwell is one of a handful of players to have turned out for Australia in all three forms in 2013, but concedes he’s highly unlikely to be named in the squad on Tuesday for the first Ashes Test against England.
“If there’s 11 guys out I’m probably more chance than if there’s none,” he said.
Not that the million-dollar man isn’t happy to be moving to the long-form game.
“I just had a nets session then and it was actually quite fun to leave a couple (of balls). I haven’t left a couple in the last six months,” he said.
Maxwell has had a season to remember, playing against Sri Lanka, West Indies and India in one-dayers, making his Test debut in India and crossing the world on Twenty20 duty.
That includes a stint for Surrey alongside and against English bowlers touring Australia this summer.
But he’s barely picked up a red ball since his Test debut against India in March, save an Australia A tour to Africa and last week against England in Hobart.
The pragmatic 25-year-old seems to know where he’s at with selector John Inverarity.
“I understand I’m going to be behind a lot of specialist batters and specialist spinners,” he said.
“I’ve got to really push for an allrounder spot, either a No.6 or a No.5.”
He concedes he will need more overs with the ball to prove his worth, but believes he can take wickets at international level.
“I haven’t had a lot of overs, it was nice to bowl 27 or 28 down in Hobart last week. So hopefully a few more games like this will help, hopefully a few more wickets as well,” he said.
“I feel like I’m bowling pretty well at the moment, and in Hobart, but didn’t have the assistance from the wicket which you generally get in Australia.”
His chance to impress is likely to come too late for the Brisbane Test when he lines up for Victoria in their Sheffield Shield match against table-topping Tasmania at Bellerive starting on Wednesday.
“I know I’m behind a few guys but hopefully results will change that,” Maxwell said.
formeropenside
Guest
No, of course not. You dont repeat and reinforce a mistake.
Ronan O'Connell
Expert
+1 jameswm some of the sour comments on here are a joke. The bloke was asked if he thought he would make the Ashes squad and he was honest and said there were lots of guys ahead of him.
nanda
Guest
Aspiration is free and it is Maxwells right to aspire. HE has the talent. Now does he have the fire to develop. Remember that he has already made a couple of million in the IPL and by the way he plays in T20, he is sure to get a lucrative contract for the next 3 years. Will he reach the next level. It is also difficult for a player who has tuned his game to the T20 format to rejig it for test cricket. Probably the reason why he feels great letting a few balls go. He can do it but the question is does he want to. Next 2 seasons will give us answers.
Tatah
Guest
Roger fair play to you. I thought when I read the article that the interviewer must have been laughing when he interviewed Maxwell and wrote this. However, I looked up his first class ave - 39.34. This sadly actually does stack up well compared with his competitors for the spot. Perhaps if he racks up some good scores and shows a bit of discipline he could be a contender.
Hookin' YT
Guest
His best chance on getting on ashes pitch normally would be as a groundsman. Never know nowadays if he's chummy with Atilla the Bingle.
jameswm
Roar Guru
That's not what I asked. Would you pick him for the 1st Ashes test?
formeropenside
Guest
I'd never have picked him. He made a century on a road in a dead rubber. Dean Jones got dropped for that.
Nudge
Guest
Good posts Jameswm. The guy is hugely talented. He is a year or 2 away but it would not surprise me one bit if he becomes an excellent test match cricketer. People see him thrash at everything in one day cricket but he actually has a very good technique. Looks like ponting when he bats. What's his first class average by the way. Is it better than Doolan, Bailey, marsh, klinger ? Think its around 43 for memory and those other blokes have about 10 years on him. Needs to start batting in the top 5 for Victoria.
jameswm
Roar Guru
Exactly. The guy has ability, and I would not be writing him off. I know for me - and admittedly I didn't play every year - I was batting at my best at around my mid-30s. Batting just seemed easier. I made technique changes, and maybe it was partly mental. I don't know. So if I improved at that age, then Maxwell can certainly improve his consistency at age 25. He needs to knuckle down and play a couple of good Shield seasons, which is presumably exactly what he is intending to, when ODIs don't get in the way.
jameswm
Roar Guru
That's just rubbish. There are many examples of players blossoming later in their career. How many are significantly better at 30 that they were at 25? Most?
Roger
Guest
Thankyou. It seriously boggles the mind how Glenn maxwell has made so many detractors. He has a better shield average then practically every other bat in shield cricket other then Hughes, Chris Rogers and Dave Hussey. And all i hear from a bunch of morons on here is 'another example of a player picked from t20 form' when his shield record quite clearly states he's doing better in shield cricket then t20s. People look at guys like Warner & Maxwell and think there's no way they can be long form cricketers because they're 'sloggers'. Just because you're an aggressive batsmen doesn't mean you can't succeed in test cricket. He has the record for the fastest domestic and international half centuries for Australia. Scoring 50 in under 20 balls (something he's done 5 times now) actually takes some skill believe it or not. He was also our most effective bowler in our test tour of India despite failing pretty badly with the bat (but who didn't). I don't think he's ready but i think long term he can be a dangerous no. 6 and is already a very valuable member of our white ball sides. He's also improving at quite a fast rate and seems to be maturing with every game, which at a time when a lot of our players seem to be going backwards (i.e Hughes, Marsh, Khawaga etc), its important that the Smiths, Baily's and Maxwells keep improving in the course they are cos they're all turning into handy cricketers and slowly justifying the faith shown in them when all others wondered what on earth they were doing near an Aussie side.
Robbo
Guest
Great post Boonboon.....I love it when people use facts to make some sense! Whilst he was picked for Test cricket way too soon, I see flashes of genius in Maxwell. He needs to continue to work hard on all aspects of his game, with the right people, Greg Shipperd is a good start. If Shipperd believes that Maxwell is a star of the future, that's good enough for me!
Pope Paul VII
Guest
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Nick
Roar Guru
-1 You ask too much of Glenn Maxwell. He isn't 'only 25'...he is 25. He has had more than enough time to work out his batting and bowling. Test batsman are basically sorted at that age except for minor changes to technique and batting approach. Maxwell would need radical changes to his batting and bowling. He isn't worth the effort at test level. Handy OD player though.
Nick
Roar Guru
-1 You ask too much of Glenn Maxwell. He isn't 'only 25'...he is 25. He has had more than enough time to work out his batting and bowling. Test batsman are basically sorted at that age except for minor changes to technique and batting approach. Maxwell would need radical changes to his batting and bowling. He isn't worth the effort at test level. Handy OD player though.
boonboon
Roar Pro
Alex Doolan - 36 First class matches - Average 39.12 - Age 28 George Bailey - 96 FC Matches - Average - 38.29 - Age 31 Glenn Maxwell (Excluding test cricket as others haven't played) - 18 first class matches - Average - 44.07 - Age - 25 He is a more consistent run scorer then the 2 favourites for the test so he perhaps isn't as far away as many here might think
Dan Ced
Roar Rookie
What professional cricketer WOULDN'T aim for such a thing As much as I don't want either Maxwell or Marsh in the team the 2 articles on cricket.com.au are simply talking about their individual desire to play for AUS, not championing their potential. I actually hate the media bias towards Shaun Marsh because he will just flake out again and burn the team, it's not worth the risk. Maxwell clearly doesn't have, or hasn't demonstrated sufficiently, the skill or temperament for test cricket.
Robbo
Guest
+1
Praveen
Guest
Nice one pope
jameswm
Roar Guru
That's incredibly uneducated, or just a stir. Steve Smith? Our 2nd best performed batsman in the Ashes series, and has started the new season on fire in all forms. You'd drop Smith fos?