“There may be an SOS to Glenn Maxwell, just back from a broken leg, who is due to be named for the one-day series after the Tests but could come earlier. ”
This was Geoff Lemon – one of Australia’s leading cricket journalists – in his Guardian Australia column on 21 February.
Fresh from a Test match that lasted less time than a direct flight from Perth to London, Lemon suggested Australian selectors may be inclined to pick a player who had recently played his first Sheffield Shield game in three years and ask him to play in the hardest red-ball conditions in world cricket.
Surely one needs to ask: why?
Maxwell’s last first-class century was at the back end of 2017, an aggressive 278 for Victoria on the admittedly postage-stamp-sized ground of North Sydney Oval. Since then, his appearances in white clothing have been fleeting, often due to his commitments in the shorter forms of the game, as well as a horrific broken leg at the back end of 2022.
Multiple IPL centuries and an international T20 strike rate of over 150 has made him one of the most sought-after players on the T20 circuit and few could argue that he has been at his best in that format.
(Photo by Chris Hyde – CA/Cricket Australia via Getty Images)
This does not necessarily require him to be picked in Test cricket, however.
Take, for example, all seven of his previous Test matches, which have come in spinning conditions: in the UAE, Bangladesh, and India; where he made his debut in 2013 and scored his only Test hundred in 2017.
It has been argued that these are the conditions he prospers in and should make him a mainstay of the red-ball side whenever they tour this region. However, despite this one century, and an apparent expertise in this environment, he nevertheless averages only 26 from 14 innings.
He appeared in Country Cricket in 2018, ostensibly as preparation for the Australia tour of the UAE later that year, but didn’t hide his frustration at not being included in both that tour and the ‘A’ games that simultaneously happened in India, and has since been seen to focus more on white-ball cricket – something he admitted as much at the start of 2021.
Maxwell’s record is decidedly average and it isn’t improving.
His ODI strike rate has diminished to 125 in the last three years, which puts him on par with a strikingly number of good, but not phenomenal players. His first-class record shows an average of less than 40, with only seven hundreds.
If a retort to this is his lack of red-ball cricket, I am only to agree. It is this lack of first-class cricket that makes any future appearance in the baggy green both unlikely and undeserved.
Before the Sri Lankan tour last year, Maxwell argued that a lack of first-class cricket wasn’t necessarily a downside due to his consistent performances on the subcontinent during the IPL. This may be true, however, it belies a distinct lack of acceptance of the intricacies around the modern game – namely, the gap between T20, ODI and Test cricket, which has never been greater.
One would go as far as to state that the three formats are close to entirely different games. This is evidenced by England having virtually completely different teams – and coaches – in the shorter formats compared to Test cricket.
Further proof of the difficulty in switching between formats without adequate preparation is seen on the current tour of India. Ashton Agar, initially picked in the squad as a likely Test starter, was rendered unelectable due to a deluge of confidence issues.
Like Maxwell, he has been a constant in the shorter formats – both for Australia and the Perth Scorchers – at the behest of any red-ball cricket.
Any mention of Maxwell being selected is also a slap in the face to the players plying their trade in the Sheffield Shield competition, which, despite Cricket Australia pushing it further and further to the margin of the Australian summer, remains the pinnacle first-class competition from which to select Test cricketers.
Peter Handscombe was recalled in India and has performed admirably. Cameron Green, still raw, was selected after plundering more first-class centuries in his first 25 games than Maxwell has scored in his entire career.
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Cameron Green (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)
This season, Cameron Bancroft has regained his form and scored four centuries, yet has barely been mentioned in the same breath as Maxwell.
This is before you mention other all-rounders who have superior records to Maxwell in recent seasons. Aaron Hardie, Matt Short and Mitch Marsh have all provided runs and wickets in the competition and should feel aggrieved if Maxwell was elevated above them.
One hopes Glenn Maxwell will remain in coloured clothing for the foreseeable future. His entertainment value is second to none. But this is where his talents should remain.
With the next test tour of the subcontinent not until 2025, when Maxwell will be approaching 37 years of age, perhaps this will be the last time we shall hear this argument.
Thank goodness.
JamesH
Roar Guru
This pretty much echoes my sentiments. He got shafted in 2017 when he was primed for a run at 6 on home soil. Sadly, that's now a distant memory. There's no basis for picking him now, in India or anywhere else.
Mike
Guest
Maxwell's treatment in the past doesn't justify his selection now. Just as Head's form sometime ago in Asia didn't justify his non-selection, Maxwell's century from 2017 doesn't justify his selection now. I wanted Maxwell in the Test team back then, and I was frustrated to see him in then out, but now is a different time. We're talking about a 33 year old who has just come back from a broken leg and hasn't played FC cricket (let alone score a ton) for three years! Playing T20 is different to Test cricket just as 7s is different to rugby, 100m is different to 400m, and singles is different to doubles. He no longer has recent enough runs on the board and fitness on display for the longer form. I really liked Maxwell as a Test player but that was 4-5 years ago. Rightly or wrongly, his time as a Test player has gone.
Dec
Roar Rookie
Dec
Roar Rookie
The comparison with Mitchell marsh’s chances are different I think to Shaun, who is a far superior batsman to any of the aforementioned and if anything, was probably under utilised in odi cricket whilst Maxwell may have been lucky at some points to keep his place. I tend to disagree with the Maxwell personality ‘issue,’ he seems like a perfectly affable guy to me. I just think some players are a bit unlucky: no more, no less. For me, the point of the piece was simply that some people hung on to him to the point of bitterness. Nevertheless, thank you for taking the time read it. Appreciate it
Richie
Guest
hmm, Maxwell is certainly better than a part time spinner (Head would be that, 60 with the ball and a wicket every couple of matches). Maxwell averages more than a wicket a match (Marsh is 1.5) at 40 in FC cricket. Bowling all rounders are also not as valuable as batting ones like Maxwell, every player usually gets to bat whereas only two bowlers are ever on at once. I wouldn't pick Maxwell now, but he certainly should have had a chance given players like both the Marsh brothers had so so many chances.
Dec
Roar Rookie
Not sure evidence - either historical or current - is your ally in this situation but anyway. I’ll keep this up. Worked out great for the Australian team that he wasn’t picked, so brilliant work by the selectors.
Clear as mud
Guest
he earned the right by coming into a losing team and making a ton. then backing it up in other tests. not FC cricket. TEST cricket. the tons he didn't score before or after - irrelevant. (however he did score the 278. then 96 the next match. he did what they asked, scored big runs. then they dropped him for Finch. they make this stuff up. and you seem to have fallen for it.) Marsh's record was so good they dropped him for Bangaldesh and he pretty much gave up hope of being selected. it's "analysis" like yours that does my head in. i can't stay. we had all of this rubbish from Lehmann. Hohns. RMarsh. phoney statistics and inconsistencies. do everyone a favour and delete this post. it's an irrelevant and poorly thought out hatchet job.
Dec
Roar Rookie
Doubtful. His problems with quick bowling have always been evident and well known. Marsh also had a strong record, including getting dropped after scoring 180 not out - so he can also feel aggrieved from previous selections. Also 7 FC tons is hardly earning the right. At the end of the day, the right selection was made. That is the most important thing However, thank you for reading :)
Clear as mud
Guest
And you can’t justify poor selection on subsequent results . Maxwell our batted Marsh in India so there is every chance he out bats him on road against the English Popguns - he had earned the right to try
Dwanye
Roar Rookie
Hi all day. I was wondering the other week that if Maxwell had been a Pom I believe he’d be in the team as soon as fit. I’m not meaning from the point that the Poms are lacking talented players, but bazball idea is his style.
Clear as mud
Guest
and none of them have a test ton in India -- nothing you say can justify the multiple brain explosions of that 2017-18 season. nothing. so don't even try. it justifies all logic. especially the recall of Mitch Marsh for team balance despite Maxwell being the spare bat - and then Mitch not bowling it was the most (word you're not aloud to say on here) and most disgraceful thing in decades. until they went even harder in 2018, the "fly to SA to save the day" - oh, you're not playing, but you can field. oh and don't go to the UK and you don't need to go the UAE but we are going to play Finch and you need to go and make red ball runs but actually why don't you come over early for the white ball legs so you can field in the tests because it's really hot out there. and the most amazing thing - Glenn genuinely doesn't seem to hold a grudge. Well I wording do!
All day Roseville all day
Roar Guru
He's good enough ie he has the raw talent. A generation earlier, pre T20, he'd have played lots of first-class cricket and as a result earned lots of Test caps on merit.
Alex
Roar Rookie
People forget that Maxwell's non-selection prior to the 2017-18 Ashes also came at a time where he could barely buy a run in ODIs - only 3 50s in 2 years. And the previous summer he almost left Victoria for NSW. The longer his career has gone, Maxwell has shown himself a player of flashes and moments rather than anything sustainable. Even his 'extended' run in the Test team was littered with starts and failures. And it's telling that his 278 was almost in conjunction with Aussies' 1st innings in the Ashes at the Gabba, where notable (Victorian) journalists were actively barracking for Shaun Marsh's demise when he came in at 4/70 odd. It's not Maxwell in isolation, but the national sporting media (in Victoria) build him up to be something that he's not. The fact that Joel Paris, Michael Neser, Tom Andrews, Sean Abbott and Ashton Agar all have FC centuries since Maxwell's last one emphasises how laughable the concept of him being anywhere near the Test team is.
Dec
Roar Rookie
Different players. Marsh - who did underperform at test level - is an all rounder and his FC record warrants that. Maxwell is a batsman and part time spinner who you do not need in Aus. That being said, A player more people in the team likes is a perfectly reasonable tie breaker. Perhaps Maxwell needed to be better at being a team player (if personality clashes are a reason for his non selection - which I do not think is true - I just think he is an average red ball player. )
Shire
Roar Rookie
Head is the only player in the last few years to hit comparably, but they're in different roles. Maxwell since 2020 has hit at 130, although it drops to 120~ if you filter since 2021. Head is hitting at 112 since the start of 2020.
Dec
Roar Rookie
No one can argue that Shaun Marsh - and his performances in that Ashes (match winning ton over a long period which no way maxwell could do etc)- warranted the selectors decision. Also, Maxwell scored his 278 after not being selected in the first test, not before. These are key facts. His record hardly warranted a continued selection. This is also to go with a glut of players and coaches (Lehmann, Smith etc) saying he didn't train properly etc.
Clear as mud
Guest
ummm, just asking, what other Australian ODI players have the 125 ODI SR?
The Slips Cradle
Guest
Zamper is another player that should stick to the white ball stuff!
matth
Roar Guru
I think part of the Maxwell thing is a reaction to his earlier poor treatment, which was real. But mistreatment of 27 year old Maxwell is not a reason to bring in 33 + year old Maxwell. Some players just are unlucky. The mistreatment was very real. From being told to get a big score, hitting 278 and being dropped anyway, made to bat in 8 different positions in his first 8 test innings, scoring our only non-Smirh century in India but never getting a home test, getting told he was “in” so no need to play for Australia A and then having Australia A performers picked ahead of him. It was a litany of kicks in the teeth. But as I said that’s all in the past. Hopefully the selectors have learned from it how to treat unique talents, but given the non selection of Travis Head for the first test in India, I doubt it.
Richie
Guest
Bit of selective work here "under 40"=39! Regardless, never had a real chance seemingly due to personality clashes. A quick check of the amount of games Mitch Marsh got with similar statistics would tell you a story.