Despite being constantly overlooked for Test selection, Glenn Maxwell is still pushing for an Ashes spot, having opted to play county cricket instead of the IPL this year.
But is he wasting his time?
There have been plenty of occasions where Maxwell has seen far less-deserving players picked.
There was the 2016 tour of Sri Lanka, where Moises Henriques and Mitch Marsh were selected, even though Marsh was out of form and Henriques had averaged 15 the previous Shield season, as opposed to Maxwell’s 56 that season.
Then, for the 2017 tour of India, Marsh was again out of form and not at full fitness but selected for the first two Tests, with Maxwell running drinks. He only got a game after Marsh broke down.
For the 2017 Ashes, Shaun Marsh was selected, even though Maxwell was the incumbent, had scored a Test century three games earlier, and had a slightly higher Shield average than the older Marsh when the team was picked (40 vs 39).
When Peter Handscomb fell out of form, Mitch Marsh was his replacement, because he bowls medium pace – although Maxwell’s a better batsman.
Yes, the Marsh brothers were excellent in the Ashes, their form since, abysmal, and both have been dropped.
Handscomb was picked as the reserve batsman for the 2018 tour of South Africa, rather than Maxwell who was averaging 56 in the Shield.
Although none of these decisions are as ridiculous as the decision to leave Maxwell out of the squad for the series against Pakistan, the most bizarre part was the players who were selected ahead of him – Aaron Finch was picked off T20 form and then there was Marnus Labuschagne.
Labuschagne made a 50 for Australia A, but he followed it with a pair in the second Australia A game, yet was rewarded with a Test call-up. He averages 33 in first-class cricket and shouldn’t even be in the discussion to wear the baggy green.
Marnus Labuschagne (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)
Maxwell was again overlooked for the India series, the selectors instead going with Labuschagne for the Sydney Test because of the latter’s spin bowling.
While Maxwell was still ignored for the Sri Lanka series, at least on that occasion Joe Burns and Kurtis Patterson actually had good domestic form and deserved their call ups – although Labuschagne was still there.
At what point should Maxwell quit first-class cricket and go on the T20 circuit?
Most T20 teams have had to opt for retired players like Shane Watson, AB De Villiers and Brendon McCullam as their marquee men. The signature of Maxwell would be a much bigger prize.
He would be any T20 team’s prized recruit and would most likely be their highest paid player.
And with plenty of leagues to play in, Maxwell could probably spend the next decade playing T20 all around the world and earn a significant amount of money.
It would be a tremendous shame, but given Glenn Maxwell’s treatment by the Australian selectors, could you really blame him?
Jules
Roar Rookie
Ever since I saw him play peak Saaed Ajmal on a bunsen burner, I thought he would be a lock for every Test in Asia, even if he only got test matches in Australia where there were injuries. Then he bizarrely gets overlooked when there are two big suspensions, not only in Australia, but also in the UAE, for a player like Labuschagne... Trevor Hohns has always seemed unable to separate his selectors' duties from his likes/ dislikes of certain players. One of the Steve Waugh diaries said as much. I can find no other explanation for the Labuschagne over Maxwell in the UAE decision, or even the same Labuschagne over Maxwell call for the last set of tests in Australia.
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
Instead of dropping Pup and installing Katich as Captain. Every team needs at least one Croatian. Someone who knows how to take on a fight. Pick a guy who even a bingle runs away from Or A bloke prepared to wear a few.
AdrianK
Guest
I think Katich was more a case of “better not saddle a new young captain with a player that held him by the throat in a dressing room”.
Matt P
Roar Rookie
Why do people keep banging on about Maxwell's test average as if the three tests he played five years ago (where he batted in five different positions across six innings) have any relevance to the player today? How about the fact that when he was recalled, he immediately scored a test ton in India? How many of our current batsmen have managed to achieve that? Or that he averaged 37 across those four tests, in unfamiliar Asian conditions where most of our batsmen constantly struggled? Or that, even after that, he was denied any chance of proving himself in a home test, with players who had been struggling much more than him (most recently, Marnus "FC average of 33" Labuschagne) routinely being preferred? How you, despite (presumably) knowing the events of his exclusion from the Pakistan tour, think it's only "possible" he's been badly treated is ridiculous. Of course, how terrible that he should have a quiet series. We all know blokes aren't ever allowed to have a few off games once in a while. Never mind that he literally just won us the T20 series on this same tour, when again, most of our other batsmen struggled to look like they had a clue. Let's also ignore that Khawaja and Handscomb are playing completely different roles to Maxwell in the team, or that Handscomb in particular also had a few quiet innings this series. Facts are selective here.
Paul Phillips
Guest
I think Maxwell is another Watson - so much promise in domestic competitions, not quite able to deliver on the world stage... Has Maxwell been treated badly in the last few years? Possibly. But right now? He doesn't fit into the team. Simple as that. Who would you sack just to see him make his 26 test average? Joe Burns has played 16 tests and averages more than 40 - yet he can't get a steady gig at opener. Aaron Finch, whom the author scoffs at for being included in the Test team, has a better average than Maxwell. Pat Cummins isn't that far behind Maxwell. What does that prove? Maxwell has shown in this one day series against India that, even in the format that is supposedly his best, he got an average of 22 or so and was outplayed by a younger Handscomb. Sure he has a few good games but as Usman and Handscomb proved, you win series by continual form, not one-off slogfests.
Pumping Dougie
Roar Guru
Well said Mr Rex Dog. I'm glad he's playing county cricket and keeping his name in the conversation. He deserves a go. The tide is turning.
Simoc
Guest
You seem to forget he only averaged 14 in the last IPL while taking a $1m wage. He got axed by the franchise and isn't in demand. The bowlers have him worked out currently in T20 but he is delivering in the 50 over format and should have been in the Australian test team as he is way ahead of the champagne man selectors bunny.
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
So what were they doing when he WAS a long term prospect?
U
Roar Rookie
He’d be picked ahead of the slogging all rounder they have now
U
Roar Rookie
Hell no. Most international sides would take him in test cricket. He’s like Roy Symonds. No matter what happens, he will give you something every game whether with bat, ball or in the field.
Just Nuisance
Roar Rookie
No. You cannot blame him.
Dockerman
Roar Rookie
Maxwell should give up on his Test cricket aspirations and cash in on the various T20 leagues while he’s still at the top of his game. The Aussie selectors are embarking on a cleanout, and looking for players who are long term prospects.
Morty
Roar Rookie
I could understand your frustration, Totally agree with u,but maxi is a talented winner,wants to play test and winner never takes a step back from his goal,no matter how many obstacles like Smith & Aussie selectors etc come through the path because it's his hope to play test again.we will support his choices till end.
The Bush
Roar Guru
They could easily have a formula. The formula could be simply; you must select the players with the best averages in the positions they play (with say a caveat of minimum number of runs/matches and an additional minimum of that in the last say twelve months). So they have to select the openers with the best averages, etc. If they don't do so, they should have to justify it to the Australian public openly.
The Bush
Roar Guru
This is what I can't stand - the mixed messages and lack of consistency. If he's no chance of making the test squad under the current set up, they should tell him that. I still wouldn't give up red ball cricket though if I was him. If we do poorly in the WC and the Ashes, Langer's job won't be so secure and the selection panel does change from time to time. At 30 he has enough years left that he could still forge a test career.
The Bush
Roar Guru
I have to agree Viv, if Maxi wasn't selected in the last twelve months, which included a tour of the UAE, he must be so far out of the selectors minds that he has no chance now that Smith is back (Warner is a bit irrelevant as Maxwell was never going to open for the test team). Head and Patterson are younger than him, and Smith is only his age, so it's not like there's a retirement on the way that'll give him a chance. And even if one of those lot begin to fail, we've seen that Labs and Handscomb are favoured ahead of him. All this is before we even look at the younger talent coming through like Pucovski.
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
Him taking crease for NZ would give me a perverse pleasure.
Insult_2_Injury
Roar Rookie
Makes no sense. Pick batsmen to bat and bowlers to bowl. Then you have a genuine allrounder in Cummins.
Insult_2_Injury
Roar Rookie
He won't be missed.
Insult_2_Injury
Roar Rookie
In answer to your heading........Yes!