Glenn Maxwell fined for Wade criticism

Glenn Maxwell has been slapped down and fined for his loose lips and it’s time for his bat to do the talking.

Maxwell on Saturday was fined an undisclosed sum by the Australian team leadership for his dig at Victorian captain and national one-day teammate Matthew Wade.

Australian skipper Steve Smith confirmed the explosive allrounder had been reprimanded after this week describing as “painful” being forced to bat below wicketkeeper Wade in the Bushrangers’ batting order during recent Sheffield Shield matches.

It sets the stage for the Chappell-Hadlee one-day series opener on Sunday at the SCG where Maxwell and Wade are likely to line up alongside each other.

While Smith couldn’t hide his disappointment, he said it wouldn’t affect Maxwell’s chances of being selected to take on the Kiwis.

“I was disappointed in his comments and I’ve expressed that to him myself,” Smith said.

“I spoke to the team and one of our values is respect – having respect for your teammates and your opposition, fans, your media. And I thought what he said was very disrespectful to a teammate and his Victorian captain.

“So the leadership group got together and we decided to fine Glenn. We thought that was sufficient punishment.”

Maxwell received support from retired quick Mitchell Johnson who tweeted: “A fine, really!! Should be batting in front of a wicketkeeper considering he is a batsman. He was only being honest right??”

The fine was meted out by the Australian team itself, not team management or Cricket Australia.

Maxwell made the comments after he was made to twice come in below Wade at No.6 in the Victorian batting order during Shield clashes last month with Queensland and NSW.

He said it had affected his chances of being selected for the recent Adelaide Test, however coach Darren Lehmann on Friday said he was never in contention and needed to score more runs.

Smith was forced to broker peace talks between Wade and Maxwell and was insistent the squad had moved on.

After Lehmann commented that Maxwell was never discussed for a Test recall because of his poor Shield returns over the past two seasons, he has a golden opportunity to make a point at the SCG.

It’s the same venue Maxwell made his lone one-day century – a 73-ball 102 against Sri Lanka at the 2015 World Cup and this week spoke of his fondness for the ground.

While the Australians are adamant the saga will not affect his future in the national set-up, it remains to be seen how it will influence his spot in Victoria.

Before this season, Maxwell requested a release to join NSW however was reportedly blocked.

Smith said Wade was disappointed in the saga but the team had vowed to move on, with their one-day world No.1 ranking on the line in the series against the Black Caps.

“(Maxwell) is available for selection so the selectors will weigh up what’s the best team for tomorrow,” Smith said.

“He was a little bit shattered with what he said. I don’t think he thought the words came out the way they actually did.”