Glenn Maxwell's long-awaited Test return confirmed for Australia vs this team

Australia's star all-rounder Glenn Maxwell is set for a potential return to the Test team with the Sri Lanka tour next year, as the national selectors are reportedly considering a significantly fresh line-up for their defense of the World Test Championship (WTC) title.

Cricket Australia (CA) has recently announced squads for the UK tour for the white-ball series against Scotland and England, which marks the beginning of their strategic planning for their crucial assignments against India and Sri Lanka.

The national selectors have rested Maxwell and Mitchell Starc for parts of the UK tour, while Pat Cummins will miss the entire series against Scotland and England to make sure they are fresh for the critical Test matches ahead at home and away.

Glenn Maxwell set for Test comeback in Sri Lanka tour next year

According to the Sydney Morning Herald, Australian selectors are planning to bring Maxwell back into the Test folds for the Sri Lanka tour next year. He is in contention for the spin all-rounder's role in the Sri Lanka Test, considering his off-spin bowling and being a handy batter in the subcontinent.

Maxwell hasn't played a Test since 2017 but was close to selection during the 2022 tour of Sri Lanka. With David Warner retired and insights gained from that 1-1 series draw in Sri Lanka, Maxwell's chances have improved to fit into the playing XI tailored for the conditions in the island nation.

The report further claimed that Travis Head might open the batting for Australia, swapping positions with Steve Smith in the proposed Test XI for Sri Lanka. Pete Handscomb and Josh Inglis are also potential inclusions, possibly replacing Mitchell Marsh and Alex Carey in the playing XI.

Maxwell is expected to bat at seven or eight, serving as a spinning all-rounder ahead of Cummins, Nathan Lyon, and Matt Kuhnemann, who was a standout performer on the India tour last year.

Spinners Mitch Swepson and Adam Zampa are also in the mix to exploit the spin-friendly Sri Lankan pitches, while Cameron Green's pace bowling will be crucial as a backup seam option alongside Cummins.

There’s a pretty clear plan in place: George Bailey

Australian selection chair George Bailey said: “What we do know about Sri Lanka is that potentially the surfaces there do give you a bit of a different make-up of your Test side, so it doesn’t tend to look exactly the same as what the Test team over the Australian summer might look like.

There’s a pretty clear plan in place in terms of what the test prep will look like and getting away and ensuring guys get some time in similar conditions or Sri Lankan conditions before the start of those two tests.”

Notably, Maxwell made his Test debut against India in Hyderabad in 2013, and since then he has played only seven matches, all of which have been played on the subcontinent. He scored 339 runs and took eight wickets in seven Test matches for the Australian cricket team.

Earlier, the Australia all-rounder expressed hopes to be a part of the team for the Sri Lanka tour in 2025, saying, “If I can get there and hopefully be good enough to take part in the series.”