Out-of-favour Maxwell meets Smith

EXILED batsman Glenn Maxwell had made good on his pledge to have a meeting with Australia captain Steve Smith, sitting down for a coffee with the skipper yesterday.

The pair came together in Melbourne a week after Maxwell was given a public slap from Smith when he was left out of the one-day squad to play England tomorrow.

It was the second rebuff for Maxwell this summer after he was overlooked for the Test team despite being the incum- bent No.6 batsman and making his maiden century in India in March.

Maxwell was confused by the ODI axing and the comments about his training.

He received support from several peers who said Maxwell’s training had been impeccable and that his batting was better than ever.

Former Australian captain Ricky Ponting said Maxwell should have been the automatic replacement for injured Chris Lynn in the one-day team, a spot which went to Victorian Cameron White.

Maxwell said there were “only good intentions” behind the public spray from Smith, denying any talk of a rift.

“I’ll address that with Steven personally. I’ll have a chat with him,” Maxwell said earlier this week.

The pair chatted amicably just hours before Maxwell was to play for the Stars in the Big Bash clash with the Melbourne Renegades.

RYAN Harris has been reprimanded by Cricket Australia in relation to tweets he sent in the aftermath of Brisbane Heat batsman Alex Ross’s contro- versial obstructing the field dismissal on Wednesday night.

The former Australian quick was among many to voice their disapproval of the dismissal in the Heat’s Big Bash clash with Hobart, calling it “an absolutely disgraceful decision by the umpires” and “very, very embarrassing” on Twitter.

Harris, who accepted a suspended $3000 fine, is now employed by CA as high performance coach and is currently coaching the Australian under-19 side at the World Cup in New Zealand.