MAXWELL IN TEST MATCH FRAME DESPITE SQUAD OMISSION
0Maxwell in Test match frame despite squad omission
By Daniel Brettig Updated April 29. 2022 — 4.20pmfirst published at 10.00am Save Log in. register or subscribe to save articles for later. Share Normal text sizeLarger text sizeVery large text size 0 Leave a comment Australia’s selection chair George Bailey has indicated Glenn Maxwell’s proven ability to make Test match runs in India means he has the chance to revive his red ball career in Sri Lanka. even after selectors left him out of the five day squad for the June July tour. Aside from Adam Zampa. who will miss the tour to be home for the birth of his first child. and a post Twenty20s start to the trip for Test captain Pat Cummins. the Australians will be at full strength for the assignment. While not specifically named in the Test squad. Maxwell is in the selectors’ thoughts as a middle order aggressor on turning pitches. particularly against off spin on a trip that will take in T20s. one day internationals and two Tests. in addition to a parallel Australia A tour. Maxwell’s one and only Test century was a quality performance against India in Ranchi in 2017. and his off breaks and fielding talents make him a player of interest to the selection panel even though he last played a first class match in 2019. The A team is the first such group since the 2019 Ashes tour. before COVID 19 severely restricted Australia’s planners in their ability to be flexible. “One of the really pleasing things for this tour that we have reduced squad sizes a little bit and we are hoping to get back to having that flexibility.” selection chair George Bailey said. “We have the ability to do that on an as needed basis. as opposed to trying to sort of crystal ball what you might need and announcing a squad of 20. which we’ve had to live last couple of years. “We know Glenn’s had some red ball success in these types of conditions. Looking forward to him just getting back and playing a good block of cricket for Australia. through the T20s and one day cricket. and you know if he shoots the lights out or if anyone else does particularly well. then there’s always going to be opportunities.” Glenn Maxwell remains in selectors’ Test plans.Credit:Getty Images As reported by The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald. Victorian spin bowler Todd Murphy has vaulted into the Australia A squad after just two Sheffield Shield matches. complementing the wrist spin of Tanveer Sangha and the left arm orthodox of Matt Kuhnemann. “It’s as much about a scarcity of skillset.” Bailey said. “If you look around Australia. we don’t have a heap of well established spinners. [Murphy] is certainly behind Nathan Lyon as far as offspinners go. He looks really promising. “So it’s exciting to get him across there along with Tanveer Sangha. who has had some opportunities in the past. and Matthew Kuhnemann as well. It’s a little bit about exposing those rarer skillsets but really important skillsets for these types of tours.” Bailey agreed that given Galle conditions that were likely to spin sharply. a formula in which two or even three spin bowlers took the field was plausible. That would likely mean more bench time for Josh Hazlewood. who played only one of three Tests in Pakistan. “Recent history in Galle would suggest that it’s going to be conducive to spin. so there’s a chance that we go in with a similar sort of makeup to what we did finish with in Pakistan with the extra spinner and one fast bowler short.” Bailey said. “We know Hoff is a quality bowler across all formats. “We might not get the conditions that we expect. So he’s always going to be a very important member of the Test squad. I think we have to be open to the possibility of playing three spinners. We have seen it done once in the past. I think. a Test match in Bangladesh.” Mitchell Marsh has recovered from a hip flexor injury and COVID to be chosen in all formats for the senior side. but opener Marcus Harris has been named only in the Australia A squad...
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