Maxwell’s omission a shock

– Batting all-rounder Glenn Maxwell’s “bizarre” failure to make the Australia Test squad for their tour against Pakistan left former captain Ricky Ponting baffled yesterday.

Selectors named five uncapped players ahead of Maxwell (right) for the two-Test tour in the United Arab Emirates next month, despite the Victorian being one of the fastest scorers in world cricket, with a handy off-spin option.

Coach Justin Langer said the 29-year-old needed regular big scores to be in contention, but Ponting questioned why he was not given the opportunity to do

Sydney

just that during the ongoing Australia A tour of India.

He told cricket.com.au: “If I was Maxi and I hadn’t been given the chance to play for Australia A, I’d be ropeable.”

Uncapped batsmen Marnus Labuschagne and Travis Head were taken to India. While Head is Australia’s leading run-scorer on that tour, Labuschagne hasn’t fared so well with an average of barely 24.

A disappointed Maxwell said he had interpreted his non-selection for the A tour as a good sign and had been under instructions from Cricket Australia to rest over the winter months.

He said. “I was hoping that was a positive note to go to Dubai. Obviously that wasn’t the case.”

Despite being cast into the Test wilderness, Maxwell said he feels his best years are still to come. –