Glenn eyes a return to top
GLENN Maxwell’s eyes have cleared at the same time as national selectors’, who have embraced the Victorian’s golden summer and recalled him to the Australian one-day cricket squad.
A hamstring injury to redhot Aussie opener Aaron Finch could pave the way for his former housemate Maxwell to surge back to where many believe he belongs.
Maxwell’s return to the national fold comes after he was dumped from the Test squad then initially overlooked for the one-day team, with a slap from skipper Steve Smith, despite a heap of domestic runs.
It remains unclear whether Maxwell will play in today’s clash against England in Adelaide but he’s expected to also be retained in the squad for Sunday’s final game in Perth.
Maxwell continued his irrepressible push for a return to national colours with a stunning knock of 84 off just 47 balls for the Melbourne Stars at the SCG on Tuesday, watched by national coach Darren Lehmann, taking his Big Bash season tally to 299.
The effort came despite Maxwell battling a bout of conjunctivitis that needed eye drops throughout his innings.
That problem has nearly resolved, as seemingly has Maxwell’s issues with Smith after their one-on-one chat in Melbourne last week.
It is understood that during the talk in a coffee shop, Smith clarified that no line had been put through Maxwell’s name, which was backed up by his selection in the national Twenty20 team.
Maxwell flew to Adelaide last night to join the one-day squad and his availability for the Stars’ final BBL clash at the MCG tomorrow is unclear
South Australian Travis Head, who was picked ahead of Maxwell in the one-day outfit and then sent back to the Big Bash after making just 12 runs in the first two games, is in line for a recall to open the batting in place of Finch.
On Australia Day last year Head clubbed 128, his highest one-day score, batting at the top of the order with David Warner and the pair put on 284 runs at Adelaide Oval.
“If I get my opportunity ... hopefully I can do the same (as last year),” Head said yesterday.
“I feel like I have been playing well in the Big Bash but I have been disappointed in the way I have started in this series.
“I’m happy to bat wherever ... as high as I can bat is nice.”
Australia must win to avoid a history-making 5-0 series defeat. England have never beaten Australia 5-0, at home or away, in a one-day series.