BOOF ON FENCE OVER MAXWELL
DARREN Lehmann says Glenn Maxwell’s name will be among those floated as Australia settles on a replacement for the injured Chris Lynn.
Maxwell was the shock omission from the one-day international squad announced last week, with bighitting Lynn favoured despite carrying a hamstring niggle and still not being able to throw properly after shoulder surgery.
But a new injury, this time to Lynn’s calf, has ruled the Brisbane Heat star out of Australia’s five-match ODI series against England later this month.
Captain Steve Smith raised eyebrows in justifying Maxwell’s non-selection, publicly outing the Victorian by suggesting he “train smarter” and “keep his head switched on” to improve his consistency.
While Maxwell accepted his poor run of ODI form was reason enough for his snub, his supporters have pointed to a career-best 278 and a followup 96 in the Sheffield Shield this season to suggest he was harshly treated.
But Lynn’s withdrawal has offered Maxwell a lifeline.
“We’ll talk about Glenn and other players and work out who the replacement is in the next day or two, and let you know,” Australian coach Lehmann said.
In-form Test left-handers Shaun Marsh and Usman Khawaja, as well as Victorian Peter Handscomb, will also come under consideration.
Uncapped Northern Territory product D’Arcy Short, the leading run scorer in the BBL with the Hobart Hurricanes, could be a bolter.
Lehmann also said paceman Mitchell Starc would be rested during the limited-overs series to ensure he was fresh for the tour of South Africa. Starc missed the Boxing Day Test with a bruised heel and made steady improvements in his Sydney return.
The MCG will host the series opener on January 14.
RICKY Ponting has rejoined Australia’s Twenty20 team as an assistant coach for next month’s tri-series with England and New Zealand.
The former Test skipper will return to bolster Darren Lehmann’s support staff, along with Australian women’s coach Matthew Mott and Troy Cooley, the head coach of the national performance program.
The trio will fill in as assistants Graeme Hick, David Saker and Brad Haddin head to South Africa ahead of the four-match Test tour starting on March 1 in Durban.