'Why Wouldn't You Pick Glenn Maxwell?' Former Australian Pacer Questions Australian Selectors
Former Australian pacer Doug Bollinger has raised some questions on Australian selectors for not including Glenn Maxwell in the Test squad that will face Pakistan in a three-match series. The former left-arm seamer believes that it is not a concern where Maxwell bats and suggested that the all-rounder would flourish in red-ball cricket based on his current form.
Glenn Maxwell last played Test cricket back in September 2017 against Bangladesh. He has done a decent job in the limited opportunities that he has got. The Victorian all-rounder also has an acceptable record in first-class cricket, having smashed 4147 runs in 69 games, averaging 39.49, with 7 centuries to his name.
Doug Bollinger while speaking on SEN 1170 Mornings, suggested that the selectors should think outside the box while citing how his idea of Scott Boland in the Test team clicked. He said, “I even said to a few people, why wouldn’t they pick ‘Maxi’ in the Test squad the way he’s batting? He’s played Test cricket before. In Australian conditions, it’d be interesting. Who cares (where you put him), put everyone up the order. I like thinking outside the square like that mate. I said to pick Scott Boland a few years ago and I got called a moron.”
Glenn Maxwell Has Not Played Test Cricket Since 2017
The 35-year-old all-rounder has played seven tests scoring 339 runs at an average of 26.08. He has a test century on Indian soil and has been in red-hot form in recent times. He smashed two hundreds in the recently concluded ICC Cricket World Cup 2023, including a double-ton against Afghanistan. It was followed by one more in the subsequent T20I series against India.
Recently, former Australia wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist also showed interest in playing Glenn Maxwell as an opener in red-ball cricket. Maxwell can take on the bowlers from ball one while someone like Usman Khawaja can hold the other end. This strategy can help Australia top England’s bazball and introduce their own aggressive style ‘Maxball’.
Australia is currently looking for David Warner‘s replacement in test cricket as the veteran opener is set to retire after the test series against Pakistan. Marcus Harris, Matt Renshaw, and Cameron Bancroft are some of the frontrunners for replacing David Warner as Australia’s new test opener.
