Australia's star all-rounder Glenn Maxwell has expressed his desire to return to Test cricket. Despite facing fitness challenges following a leg injury, he is eager to tour Sri Lanka early next year for a two-Test series. Maxwell is widely regarded as one of the most exciting cricketers to have represented Australia. His ability to significantly impact a game within a short period has been a defining characteristic of his career. Maxwell's contributions with both bat and ball have been instrumental in securing numerous victories for the Australian team. Maxwell's impact in Test cricket has been limited compared to his success in white-ball formats. He has played only seven Tests in his career, with his most recent appearance coming in July 2023 for Warwickshire.
Despite his relatively short Test career, Maxwell has shown promise. He has scored 339 runs at an average of 26.07, including a Test century in India. There have been indications that he might be included in Australia's Test squad for the upcoming series in Sri Lanka.
Glenn Maxwell eyes Test comeback
Discussing his potential Test return, Glenn Maxwell acknowledged the challenge posed by his leg injury. He stressed the need for significant effort to ensure his fitness for the demanding Test format. Maxwell expressed his keenness to participate in the Sri Lanka Tests and remains optimistic about his body's ability to withstand the physical demands of four-day cricket. As reported by news.com.au, he stated:
“It’s still my leg. It’s what is giving me the most grief since breaking it, so it’s still a work in progress. It’s something I have to work hard on every day to make sure it’s in a position where I feel like I can get through a full day of cricket unscathed and hopefully pain-free,” Maxwell said.
"It would be great if I could get my body into a position where I can play over (in Sri Lanka), but as far as Shield cricket, I’m not sure how much they’ll take that into consideration, and whether or not I need to prove I can get through four days of cricket before I play Test cricket. Hopefully, my body’s going well, and I can put my hand up for the Test stuff as well, but there’s still a lot of work left to do and a lot of boxes to tick before then,” he added.
Maxwell discussed the challenges of playing Test cricket in Sri Lanka, emphasizing that domestic performance might not be the sole factor influencing selection for the tour. He explained that the conditions in Sri Lanka are unique and require specific skills and adaptations.
"They’ve been pretty open to selecting outside the box for players who do well in those conditions, and knowing what it’s like in Sri Lanka, I don’t think Shield form is going to be a huge factor in how someone is going to go over there. It’s just completely different conditions, you’ve got to have a really solid game plan against spin and a really good idea of how you’re going to tackle them in those conditions – it’s a different beast," Maxwell concluded.
Whether Maxwell will be included in the Australian Test setup before the series against Sri Lanka remains uncertain. The Pat Cummins-led side will next face India in a five-match Test series.
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