Glenn Maxwell’s summer plans and his hopes for a Test recall in the new year are all but over, with the veteran allrounder breaking his leg in a freak injury suffered at a 50th birthday celebration.
The 34-year-old fractured his left fibula during a backyard party in Melbourne on Saturday and underwent surgery on Sunday.
He will be sidelined for an extended period, between eight and 12 weeks, and will likely be ruled out of the four-Test series in India in February and March.
It’s understood Maxwell slipped while running in the backyard at the party and his leg became trapped under another party guest.
Neither person was intoxicated and the accident took place early in the evening, sources said.
Australia chairman of selectors George Bailey said Maxwell was in “good spirits” considering what the injury could mean for his career.
Maxwell’s absence will be a major blow for the Melbourne Stars in their bid to finally win a Big Bash League title this summer.
“Glenn is in good spirits. It was an unfortunate accident and we feel for Glenn in the circumstances given he was in great touch in his last few games,” Bailey said in a statement.
“Glenn is a critical part of our white ball structure and we will continue to support him through his recovery and rehabilitation.”
Maxwell has been replaced in Australia’s squad for the coming ODI series against England, starting in Adelaide on Thursday, by NSW allrounder Sean Abbott.
One of Australia’s finest white-ball cricketers, Maxwell last played a Test back 2017 in Bangladesh but was a strong chance to be included in the squad to tour India for his experience with batting and bowling offspin in Asia.
On Australia’s last tour of India in 2017, Maxwell scored a brilliant 104 in Ranchi and has played all seven of his Test matches in Asia.
Maxwell’s injury is the latest in a string of bizarre injuries to cricketers.
Star England batter Jonny Bairstow was ruled out of the entire Twenty20 World Cup after breaking his leg playing golf in October.
Just days before the tournament was due to begin, fringe Australia batter Josh Inglis suffered a serious hand injury playing golf and was replaced by powerful allrounder Cameron Green.
Doctor Rotcod
Roar Rookie
1982 springs to mind when seven West Australians were in the Test side. Oh wait, that was forty years ago.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Hardie by a very long way.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
...and Paris.
Doctor Rotcod
Roar Rookie
Not always a lot of tone around the Roar. You know that,Don...
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
And you'd pick McSweeny in the national side after 9 moderate to failed games? Both Shorts have won games off their own bats and both have taken significant wickets. I will predict that you will get not one person endorse McSweeny for national honours. You're flying solo here. I am hands down correct here. McSweeny struggles.
DTM
Roar Rookie
You are using Shield references when we are playing 50 over cricket against England. McSweeney batted at 3 in SA's last 50 over game (ahead of Carey) and at 5 for previous games. Like Maxwell, he is a part time offie. However, McSweeney is listed as an all rounder, Manenti as an off spin bowler on both SACA and CA website - he bats at 8. Matt Short vs McSweeney - List A games Short 52 games McSweeney 9 Short batting average 29 McSweeney 37 Short bowling average 52 Mcsweeney 39 Short economy rate 5.7 McSweeney 4.9 Of course, McSweeney's stats are from a small sample but I'm not proposing he is in the first XI - just a squad replacement for Maxwell (funnily enough, his List A stats are actually better than Maxwell's too!). Sometimes Don, you just have to accept that you are wrong but by all means, keep clutching at straws.
Doctor Rotcod
Roar Rookie
Victoria @ 7/118 I'd say you are.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
You are making an argument about a non argument. Asking me to name 5 batsmen who bowl offies is silly. Why not 7? Why not 2? Every cricketer in Australia can roll out an offie the way McSweeny does. Late evening net bowling. McSweeny is a borderline state player and just nowhere near anything else. Let’s see your comparison of Darcy Short and McSweeny. Keep in mind that Short also struggles to get a state game. Love to see the comparison with Matt Short. Last 5 games? Last 10 games? Might have to be Last 2 games because McSweeny hasn’t played much. Manenti is more of a batsman than McSweeny is a bowler. Manenti has scored more runs than McSweeny. As WA piled on over 400 runs, ask yourself why McSweeny wasn’t trusted to bowl.
DTM
Roar Rookie
"McSweeney bowls offies like Brad Hodge bowled offies or Mike Hussey bowls mediums. He’s not a bowler at all. Just an over filler before tea." To be honest, Maxwell's bowling is not much better. In his 25 ODI games at Syd/Melb/Adelaide he has bowled 89 overs and taken 6 wickets at 80. Marnus is already in the squad so he doesn't count as one of the 5. D Short and Sangha are both part time leggies so not like for like (Sangha's stats are awful - batting average of 10, no wickets in list A games). Actually, even Darcy Short's stats are not equal to McSweeney's (in batting and bowling). Ben Manenti is a bowler who bats so Matt Short is the only real like for like in your list. McSweeney has superior batting average, bowling average and economy rate to Matt Short.
qwetzen
Roar Rookie
Anytime that you'd like a debate on the topic, 'NSW Have Been Selecting Teams For The Last 40 Years' you let me know.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
McSweeney bowls offies like Brad Hodge bowled offies or Mike Hussey bowls mediums. He’s not a bowler at all. Just an over filler before tea. Darcy Short, Mattie Short, Jason Sangha, Ben Manenti, Marnus Labuschagne all bowl and bat better…some even have that delightful addition of wrist spin. Yet, Marnus is the only one close to Oz selection. No one benefits from ” being around the team”. If they are not playing for Oz, they should be playing State cricket. Ashton Agar has not played a red ball game for 19 months, yet he is always touring with the Australian side.
DTM
Roar Rookie
"Neither of those 2 are in the best 50 in the country." That's a bit harsh on McSweeney. Perhaps you could nominate 5 players who should be ahead of him - they must be batsmen who bowl offies. I agree, Phillipe should be in the squad ahead of him (despite their batting averages being similar). However, Josh is a batsman/keeper so not like for like for Maxwell. Inglis also fits this category and would be ahead purely on batting prowess. I'm not proposing he is in our best XI but we need to be developing our younger players and having a player like McSweeney running drinks and training with the big boys for a 3 match series would do no harm and might just add a bit of enthusiasm for a team with several players complaining of tiredness. .
Doctor Rotcod
Roar Rookie
Helps to have broad shoulders and thick skin developed over a lifetime Don't have older sisters by any chance?
Doctor Rotcod
Roar Rookie
Hardie or Sutherland?
Jeff
Roar Rookie
And a game changer re music videos :thumbup:
Rellum
Roar Guru
Richardson
Tim Carter
Roar Pro
THE best song by a former member of Genesis.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Yes, well and truly aware. Did you watch him this game? He has deteriorated.
Jeff
Roar Rookie
Sledgehammer?
Jeff
Roar Rookie
How is death treating you? Is it worth coming back from? I'm still in two minds about what to about my retirement. :thumbup: