In the wake of Australia’s recent ODI World Cup victory, star all-rounder Glenn Maxwell of Australia has declared that he has not ‘given up’ on his Test dreams. With a century against India in the third Twenty20 International in the five-match series and a double-century against Afghanistan in the ODI World Cup, Maxwell, who last played a Test in 2017, has been playing at his best. In his career, the all-rounder has only participated in seven Test matches. Since 2017, Maxwell has not worn the baggy green, and his record in Test cricket is anything but stellar, with an average of 26.07 at bat and eight wickets at 42.62.
As stated by Maxwell to the Sydney Morning Herald, “I think I’ve just got to be realistic about the timings of the way I’ve been playing my white-ball cricket.”
“You play a World Cup and then you don’t play any Shield cricket, you play at the back end of summer in white ball and don’t play any Shield cricket, so it’s just the way it’s gone over the last 10 years of my career really. The two runs in the final were pretty cool. I don’t think anything’s going to top that. Even though there were moments during the tournament individually, I think that final … nothing’s going to top that,” he added. Prior to this, legendary Australian cricketer Ricky Ponting supported the notion of starting exceptional all-rounder Maxwell in the Test match, given his incredible performance in the just finished ICC World Cup and a Twenty20 International series against India.
“I could see him getting back into a Test line-up because of the all-round game that he brings in those conditions. The [201] not out in that game against Afghanistan, which is the most remarkable one-day innings I’ve ever seen. I’ve been around a lot of games, watched a lot of games, played a lot of games, I’ve never ever seen anything like that,” Ponting was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo.
While everything is going on, Matthew Wade, who is captain of Australia in the current Twenty20 International series against India, has encouraged Maxwell to succeed in the longest format of cricket.
“I think it is just mentally and a little bit physically, he’s come back from quite a bad injury and 50-over cricket tends to take it out of you,” Wade was quoted as saying SMH. “He’s ready to go home, and a performance like that maybe didn’t happen if he didn’t know he was getting the opportunity to go home and rest. I’m really happy for him, his hundredth game. He found a way to bring his best and we’re happy he can go home and be with his family,” he added.
