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Glenn Maxwell could soon find himself back in the Australian Test side. With the Aussies’ next Test tour against Pakistan on expected dustbowls in the UAE, the Victorian all-rounder is likely to come into calculations.
The man dubbed the ‘Big Show’ by teammates ranks alongside Shane Watson, Shaun Marsh and Phil Hughes as one of the most-maligned cricketers in the country.
Perceived as pompous and ahead of himself, Maxwell raises the ire of some cricket fans merely by taking the field.
Australia are yet to settle on a suitable sixth batsman to complement Chris Rogers, David Warner, Shane Watson, Michael Clarke and Steve Smith.
Health permitting, Watson is certain to return to the line-up for the third Test against South Africa at Cape Town, displacing either Alex Doolan or Shaun Marsh.
Doolan and Marsh were highly impressive and influential in Australia’s mammoth victory at Centurion before falling flat on their faces at Port Elizabeth.
Whichever player survives the return of Watson would not want to produce a similarly-inept display at Newlands or their position will be vulnerable come the Pakistan tour in October.
This is where Glenn Maxwell comes into the fold.
Australia are highly unlikely to field two specialist spin bowlers in that Test series, despite the typically parched surfaces offered up in the UAE.
Ryan Harris is one probable omission from the side due to his decision to have surgery on his troublesome right knee after the end of the tour of South Africa.
He will reportedly aim to return for next summer’s home Test series against India.
Still, it is hard to imagine either of the best-performed spinners this Shield season, Xavier Doherty or Stephen O’Keefe, getting a gig in the Australian XI against Pakistan.
Doherty is enjoying a fantastic Shield campaign but has been an abject failure when asked to step up to Tests.
O’Keefe, meanwhile, is clearly on the nose with Cricket Australia and cannot seem to shed this long-running hex, regardless of his wicket-taking prowess.
Maxwell’s attacking off spin could seduce the selectors, particularly if Doolan or Marsh flounder at Cape Town.
In such a scenario Watson would be reinstated to first drop, where he enjoyed success during the back-to-back Ashes, with Maxwell at six.
The Australian selectors’ penchant for picking all-rounders in the Test team makes this a very real possibility.
Adding to the chances of this occurring is Maxwell’s apparent blossoming as a first-class batsman this Shield season.
Chastised for being too cavalier with the blade in the longest form of the game, the 25-year-old has now shown he has the capacity to make tough runs.
Maxwell was the only Victorian batsmen to showcase any fight in Victoria’s innings loss to New South Wales at the SCG two weeks ago.
He made 94 and 127 against the Blues, astoundingly accounting for 221 of his side’s 404 runs for the match.
Intent on proving that effort was not an anomaly, he then made 119 in his next Shield innings as Victoria once against laboured, this time against the in-form South Australia.
The reports of those three consecutive innings were glowing.
Maxwell also played a handy role with the ball, snaring 4-92 over those two fixtures.
The prodigiously-gifted youngster has been Victoria’s second-highest Shield run scorer this summer behind Cameron White, with 544 runs at 45.
His career first-class record is better than many people may assume – 1765 runs at 41, with four centuries from 27 matches, to go with 40 wickets at 39.
Granted, Maxell’s batting figures may be inflated slightly by often batting at six or even seven in a typically strong Victorian order.
However, he is a better long-form player than many people give him credit for.
Is he ready for Test cricket? Not from what I’ve seen.
But that doesn’t mean that he can’t mould himself into a player capable of Test success in years to come.
It also doesn’t mean that he won’t be closely considered by the selectors, who clearly rate Maxwell.
Don’t be surprised to see him tour the UAE and perhaps even sneak into the XI against Pakistan.