As reports circulated yesterday of a nearing end to Australian cricket’s pay dispute, one international cricketer perhaps more than any other would have been sweating on a swift outcome – Glenn Maxwell.
When the all-rounder scored a rare Test ton on Indian soil for an Australian in March, I thought he deserved to be a lock for the Ashes.
But his Test career has been put in jeopardy by the pay dispute.
The Australia selectors have a strong preference for a seam-bowling all-rounder at six in home Tests, which means Maxwell needs to excel in this month’s two Tests in Bangladesh to earn an Ashes spot. But series remains in doubt, with Australia’s cricketers refusing to get on the plane on August 18 unless the pay war has been settled.
If the Bangladesh series is cancelled, denying Maxwell the chance to make himself undroppable for the Ashes, he will likely be jettisoned this summer for a batting all-rounder who bowls seam – probably Western Australia’s Hilton Cartwright.
AAP Image/Dan Himbrechts
Maxwell is particularly vulnerable due to the fact he does not seem to be well regarded by captain Steve Smith or coach Darren Lehmann.
Smith only gave Maxwell six overs in the Tests in India, despite the off spinner having taken seven wickets at an average of 27 in his previous two matches in the country. The skipper’s been similarly dismissive of Maxwell in ODIs, refusing to bowl him in ten of his past 13 matches, even though the Victorian averaged a solid 32 with the ball in the preceding 18 months.
The bullish Lehmann patently has a major influence on such on-field tactics so he, too, appears not to be interested in letting Maxwell express his all-round talents. As one of four members of the national selection panel, Lehmann has a big say in Maxwell’s immediate Test future.
The 28-year-old very likely will bat at six in the first Test against Bangladesh in Dhaka starting on August 27, if the tour goes ahead. His backs-to-the-wall century in the third Test in India was the first ton at number six by an Australian in almost three years.
In that three-year period, Australia have had many Test matches on flat pitches where their number six has come to the crease in perfect conditions under minimal pressure. Yet none managed to do what Maxwell did in alien conditions against elite bowlers, after arriving in the middle with his team in trouble at 4-140.
That wonderful performance may not matter if the pay dispute derails this month’s tour, and the selectors once again are seduced by the idea of having an all-rounder who can bowl seam up in home conditions.
Despite a News Ltd media report that the pay dispute is as good as over, any deal still has to be ratified by Cricket Australia’s board, who have been staunchly opposed to caving in to the demands of the players.
As much as I want to believe it’s about to end, the war need only stretch only another three weeks for the Bangladesh tour to be scuppered. And if that happens, Maxwell will lose his Test spot come the first Ashes Test in November.
BurgyGreen
Guest
I absolutely was not advocating that Mitch Marsh should be anywhere near the team, but merely that neither Maxwell nor Cartwright are allrounders in the sense that the selectors usually like, but rather batsmen who can bowl a bit. To my mind, just because Cartwright bowls seam doesn't mean the selectors will go for him, because his seam bowling is no better than part-time.
Mike Dugg
Guest
Nevill after around 20 tests has the worst average of all the international keepers. Worst than the Windies and Bangladesh! Face it. Some guys can't make the leap up. Team has looked much better as a whole since he was dropped
ozinsa
Guest
Spot on. I like Marsh but he needs to turn style into runs or he's out of consideration for the team
Kopa Shamsu
Guest
Iif the tor go ahead,i would want this team to play against us 1. renshaw 2. khawaja 3. patterson(not in the team,why?) 4. smith 5. handscomb 6. wade 7. maxwell/stoinis 8. pattinson 9. hazlewood 10. lyon 11 . sok(now agar as sok is not in the team)
Rajesh
Guest
As an Indian it amazes me how badly Maxwell has been treated. In fact it is pretty clear now that z Smith and Lehmann do not want him in the team and if they are forced to play him they go out of their way to stifle his all-round abilities. Now if this happened with the Indian team I wouldn't have batted an eyelid where we are used to seeing players unceremoniously dumped because they weren't in the good books of the then dispensation. Dhoni is the most notorious and most recent. After becoming captain in 2007 he systematically went about ousting his potential captaincy rivals from the team at the slightest opportunity. The fine and outspoken Gautam Gambhir commented after an ODI victory that perhaps India could have closed out the game in the 42nd over instead of unnecessarily taking the game to the last over. I am not sure of the exact numbers, but India were chasing an Gambia and Sehwag batted really well and India were cruising. Gambia departed around the 30th over with 40 odd to get and in walked Dhoni and poked and prodded and hit the winning runs with 3 balls to spare. Suffice to say, post that comment Gambia became a marked man and was dumped at the first instance when he lost form and was never seriously considered for India again. Sehwag was also dumped. Unfortunately Dhoni could not keep Yuvaraj Singh out as the talismanic batsman continued to bludgeon opposition bowlers while contributing with the ball. Unfortunately Yuvaraj Singh was diagnosed with cancer and spent nearly 2 years out of the game when he was arguably at his prime. Once again, Yuvaraj was dumped and despite 1 or 2 short comeback attempts never figured in Dhoni s thinking until he resigned and Kohli became captain. In fact in 2011 after the disastrous England tour the selection committee was almost unanimous in thinking and Dhoni must go, but the notorious BCCI president Srinivasan overruled their decision and so Dhoni continued. Of course the then Chairman of selectors, the illustrious Mohinder Amaranth was fired for daring to think about unseat in Srinivasan's poodle. I always thought that the Aussies were professional and did not let personal likes/dislikes come in the way of selecting players. Guess I was wrong.
Ronan O'Connell
Expert
Fair point Nudge. If it was Hazlewood v Cummins for the second pace spot to support Starc then Hazlewood's position would deserve to be uncertain. But for me I think Australia would be better balanced in Bangladesh with Hazlewood and Cummins as their only quicks rather than Pattinson and Cummins.
Ronan O'Connell
Expert
I'm not sure Maggie there's no info available that I know of. But I'd be surprised if there aren't at least three rounds of the Shield before the Ashes starts, with two of those rounds coming before the 1st Test squad is announced.
Nudge
Guest
I'd be surprised as well Ronan, he has enough credit points in the bank compared to Cummins and Pattinson. My point is if the wickets aren't going up and down he is pretty innocuous in those conditions. In the second innings of the second test the ball was grubbing along the ground and the odd one was rising sharply. Pretty much an impossible wicket to bat on and he cleaned up because he bowls stump to stump, but the other 7 innings he didn't even look like taking a wicket. He actually averaged 76 in his other 7 innings. If you look at the 2 tests Cummins and Hazlewood played together ( the last 2 ) Cummins took 8 wickets at 30 and looked unbelievably threatening every over with sheer pace compared to Hazlewood who took 2 wickets at 84.
Maggie
Guest
Sorry to push the point but to clarify, so we don't know there will be two rounds of SS before the Ashes squad is to be announced? (Although I appreciate it is likely/we would hope this will be the case - dependent on resolutiion of pay dispute.)
Ronan O'Connell
Expert
No Maggie I haven't seen Shield fixtures listed anywhere else, but quite often they aren't released until within 2 months of the start of the Shield season.
Maggie
Guest
Ronan, that link is for last season's Sheffield Shield season. I can't find the SS fixture for 2017-18 - can you confirm it has been released?
twodogs
Guest
A very gifted player is Maxy and seemingly not truly rated by Smith. Fingers crossed he gets a gig and consistently shows what he promises. Gee, they really need to go to Bangladesh - if not that's near 9mths without test match play before the Ashes.
Ronan O'Connell
Expert
Maxwell averaged 40 with the bat in India during a series in which Kohli, Warner, Handscomb, Rahane, Vijay, Renshaw, Marsh and Nair all averaged 33 or less.
Ronan O'Connell
Expert
Nudge I'd be shocked if Hazlewood was left out of the lineup in Bangladesh given Starc won't be there. In India Hazlewood went at just 2.47rpo - that pressure earns wickets for the other bowlers.
Ronan O'Connell
Expert
I'm extremely impressed by Cartwright as a batsman, I think he's tailor made for Test cricket. Has made some tough runs at first drop for WA.
Ronan O'Connell
Expert
The Sheffield Shield starts on October 25 with two rounds to be played before the Ashes squad is likely to be announced: http://www.espncricinfo.com/sheffield-shield-2016-17/content/series/1036353.html?template=fixtures
Rellum
Roar Guru
My point is the selection panel seem to think otherwise.
PK
Guest
Although even after a well deserved six months on the couch eating pies he'd still be the best keeper and gutsiest keeper-bat in the country.
jameswm
Roar Guru
Sure Mitch Marsh is a better bowler than those two, no doubt. But he isn't a good enough batsman to bat at 6 in tests, he can't bat at 7 unless you have a legitimate top 6 batsman as keeper, and he's not a good enough bowler to bat at 8 as one of your 4 specialists. So he doesn't make the team.
jameswm
Roar Guru
Cartwright is no more of a bowler than Maxie.