Maxi breaks back in
National selectors recall Maxwell but Stoinis snubbed
CRICKET: Glenn Maxwell believes his pre-Christmas break from cricket was the “right move” after a stunning Big Bash effort was rewarded with an international recall.
The Melbourne Stars captain, and skipper of the BBL team of the year, was yesterday included in the Australian T20 and one-day squads for a sixmatch tour of South Africa starting later this month.
But Maxwell’s Stars teammate, and BBL player of the year, Marcus Stoinis was only considered a “high calibre back-up” as Test batsmen Matthew Wade and all-rounder Mitchell Marsh were picked.
“Marcus Stoinis is a standby player for each squad and was unlucky to miss out due to the make-up of the current top order,” national chairman of selectors Trevor Hohns said.
“It is terrific to have a back-up player of his calibre in such good form.”
Maxwell returns to the national set-up having stepped away during last November’s T20 series against Sri Lanka to deal with his mental wellbeing.
The 31-year-old returned when the BBL began in December and produced some stunning performances with the bat, and as captain, to lead the Stars to the minor premiership.
Maxwell said the break enabled him to clear his mind and he even sidelined thoughts of a return to the Australian team, a decision he believes has helped turn him into a fresher, more rounded player, and person.
“I wouldn’t have said I pencilled in anything this year. I think last year … I probably thought ahead a lot. I thought deep into the future and all of a sudden you forget about the now,” he said.
“When you have so much going on in the back of your mind, to finally be able to clear that away and concentrate on the things that matter, it’s a sign it was the right move.
“I think I have come back a fresher player, been able to work out things off the field and get mentally right to play well and perform without any mental scars.”
Stoinis missed selection in both teams despite racking up a seasonhigh 612 runs, which included a new BBL record score of 147 not last month.
Maxwell said his Stars teammate would be disappointed but would get his chance.
“Let’s be honest, if Marcus Stoinis keeps playing like he has this tournament, it’s not going to be long until he’s back in,” he said.
Ashton Turner was axed from the one-day team, while Peter Handscomb and D’Arcy Short, who toured India last month but didn’t play, were also left out.