Maxwell opens up on his Test snub saying he would have made same call had he been in place of the selectors.
Maxwell opens up saying that, after considering the Australian selectors’ choice that most certainly put an end to his Test career, he would have made the same choice.
Cooper Connolly, an uncapped 21-year-old, was selected ahead of the seasoned all-rounders in the 16-man team for the forthcoming tour of Sri Lanka, leaving Maxwell and Mitchell Marsh among the high-profile absences.
Maxwell had been keen to increase his seven Test appearances, given he had not played first-class cricket for eighteen months. With Australia’s place in the World Test Championship final essentially certain, the 36-year-old has no qualms about selectors looking to the future.
“It’s just selection,” Maxwell said. “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.
“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 has not participated in Test cricket since 2017, and it doesn’t seem probable that he will be able to return to the national team in the game’s longest format.
His spin bowling and ability to bat against the turning ball were previously valued by selectors, and he has only played in Asia in Test matches.
Only a few months prior, Maxwell injured his leg at a friend’s backyard party, which would have prevented him from travelling to India for the Border-Gavaskar trophy series in 2023.
However, after hitting 90 from 52 balls in the Melbourne Stars’ BBL derby victory over the Renegades, he was in no mood to make a major decision on his Test future.
“I’m not making any future plans right now,” Maxwell said. “I’m looking forward to a week off and Sunday.”