‘It’s realistic’: Star opens up on Test cricket dream
GLENN Maxwell still holds out hope of one day breaking back into the Test side and insists his lengthy absence from red-ball cricket won’t stand in his way.
In the years that have followed his last Test match in 2017, Maxwell has focused on the shorter forms of the game, proving attractive to IPL sides and Aussie selectors alike.
His status as a T20 weapon was reaffirmed just this week – Maxwell was the only Aussie retained by an IPL side for next year’s tournament, while the likes of Steve Smith, David Warner and Josh Hazlewood will go up for auction.
Maxwell also flexed his white-ball muscles on the world stage at the T20 World Cup, holding his own among a stellar bowling line-up and pitching in a vital 28 runs with the bat in the final.
As he prepares to captain the Melbourne Stars in BBL|11, Maxwell said a Test return could be waiting for him down the line despite a two-year absence from red-ball cricket.
“I think it’s definitely realistic. I think I’m probably playing as well as I ever have at the moment,” Maxwell told reporters on Friday.
“I feel really good about my game. I’ve been able to work on different techniques for different formats, which has really helped.
“I’m in constant contact with the selectors and they’ve been really clear that if opportunities do come up, that I’m ready for red-ball.”
The multi-format tour of Pakistan next year will be the first of Maxwell’s opportunities to end his time in the Test wilderness.
“I’ve been told that next year will be a subcontinentheavy tour year and there could be opportunities with guys coming in and out (of the 11),” he said.
“There’s obviously a lot of cricket next year. You don’t want to burn guys out throughout the season, so there might be some changes.
“I’ve just got to make sure that I’m playing well when they pick those squads.”
In the time being, Maxwell is hoping to taste BBL glory with the Stars for the first time.
The skipper said the lessons he learnt at the T20 World Cup would go a long way to helping the side improve on its seventh-placed finish in BBL|10.