Glenn Maxwell shuns IPL pay day to chase Ashes dream

Days after announcing he had withdrawn from the Indian Premier League auction, Glenn Maxwell has signed with an English county side to push his case for Australian honours.

Maxwell this week opted out of the 2019 edition and passed up the chance to earn big dollars after being sold for AU$1.9 million this year.

The reason why emerged on Saturday, with Maxwell and fellow Aussie hopeful Joe Burns joining Lancashire for the English county season.

While Burns will be available for 10 of the team’s County Championship fixtures, Maxwell can feature in all three formats.

A regular in Australia’s white-ball sides, he will build his form ahead of the 2019 Cricket World Cup in England.

But the key for Maxwell will be up to five red-ball games for Lancashire, who play in Division Two, as he attempts to end his Test exile.

The Ashes will take place in August and September after the World Cup.

“Coming over to England early next year will also help me acclimatise to conditions ahead of the ICC Cricket World Cup, which I am incredibly excited about,” Maxwell said.

“I still have aspirations to play Test cricket for Australia so I felt it was important that I play some first-class cricket whilst I’m over in England.

“There are some very talented young players in the Lancashire squad and I can’t wait to join up with the lads in April and contribute towards a successful season in all competitions.”

Any Australian players in contention for the World Cup were set to have their IPL campaigns cut short by Cricket Australia.

Mitchell Starc and Aaron Finch have already announced they will opt out of the auction to rest ahead of the World Cup.

Burns has never played in the IPL and will use his England stint to push for a return to the Australian Test side.

The Queenslander was rushed to South Africa to play the Test match after the ball-tampering saga broke out in March.

But after making 42 runs in his only innings he was dropped for subsequent tours, including the ongoing series against India.

He will be available for 10 of Lancashire’s red-ball fixtures.

“Lancashire is a huge county with a fine history in the game and I am extremely excited to have the opportunity to play for the Red Rose next year,” he said.

“I’m determined to put in some match-winning contributions for the side and help Lancashire push for promotion at the first time of asking.”

with AAP