Australia all-rounder Glenn Maxwell’s hopes of reviving his Test comeback was all but over after he was overlooked for the upcoming tour to Sri Lanka.
Despite not having played a First-Class game since July 2023, Maxwell’s name was doing the rounds for the tour to Sri Lanka as one of the spin-bowling all-rounders. With Australia securing their berth in the ICC World Test Championship final already, the selectors have looked in another direction with the future in mind.
“It’s just selection,” Maxwell was quoted as saying by AAP. “There’s always going to be people wanting to be there and I made no secret that I desperately wanted to be on that tour, but I can completely understand their reasoning.
“The fact that they’re already in the World Test Championship final, they’ve got a couple of Tests in Sri Lanka and there’s going to be some sub-continent tours over the next few years, so they get to look a few new guys in those conditions.
Besides Maxwell, pace all-rounder Mitchell Marsh was also not named in the 16-member squad after a lean home Border-Gavaskar Trophy series against India. With captain Pat Cummins also giving the series a miss, Steve Smith will be leading the Aussies for the two Tests.
“What an experience for those guys to go over there – Cooper Connolly on his first Test tour – I certainly would’ve made the same decision as they have.”
Maxwell last featured in a Test in Bangladesh in 2017, making all seven of his appearances in Asia. In 14 innings, the 36-year-old amassed 336 runs with a solitary Test hundred and eight wickets.
The Big Show is still at his belligerent best, having smashed an unbeaten 90 for the Melbourne Stars in the Big Bash League on Sunday. Maxwell also retained his spot in Australia’s Champions Trophy squad that was unveiled on Monday.
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