‘He’s keen’: Maxwell closes on red-ball return
Victorian captain Will Sutherland has welcomed Glenn Maxwell’s interest in a return to four-day cricket, with a pair of Sheffield Shield appearances floated in the early part of the season.
Maxwell could line up for Victoria in a first-class game for the first time in more than 18 months during October as Sutherland said he was keen to bring him back into the side.
The dynamic all-rounder told NewsWire last month that he wanted to prove to selectors he could get his body through four consecutive days of cricket to press his case for selection on the Test tour of Sri Lanka next February.
Maxwell, 35, has not worn a baggy green since a 2017 tour of Bangladesh and has only played two red-ball games since the end of 2019.
“I think he’ll be available for a couple (of games) and I believe he’s keen to play as well,” Sutherland said on Wednesday.
“Obviously, things can change with him playing at the moment, but to have a player like Glenn potentially come into our side is a bit of a luxury, so hopefully that can work out nicely.”
Victoria faces Tasmania at the Junction Oval from October 8-11 before a clash with NSW at the MCG from October 20-23.
Maxwell would have about 10 days to prepare for the Shield opener after returning from Australia’s white-ball tour of the UK but is more likely to feature in the NSW clash where he would lock horns with Test spinner Nathan Lyon and potentially members of Australia’s first-choice pace contingent.
A one-day series against Pakistan begins at the MCG on November 4.
Sutherland confirmed fringe Test quick Scott Boland would likely be fit for the second Shield game as he recovered from a knee concern, saying he was bowling nicely in the nets.
“I believe it’s the second one, you’ll have to double check with him, but I faced him in the nets a few days ago, and he’s still nipping the ball back into me, blowing my quad off every second ball,” the captain said.
“He’s still got his tools, and he’s just building up nicely. I’m sure he’ll be ready to go for the Shield season.”
Sutherland, who said he would only bowl limited overs at the start of the Shield season as he returned from a back stress fracture, said he had exchanged text messages with Will Pucovski, who remains in limbo after a medical panel stopped short of forcing him to retire due to the impact of repeat concussions.
“He’s probably closer to other guys than me but we’ve sent the odd message to each other, just trying to stick with him,” Sutherland said.
“We’re a tight group at Victoria. We want to have that family sort of feel, so I’m sure a lot of boys have tried to keep in touch with him.
“I’m not sure of the situation he’s going through at the moment. I’m probably not the right person to ask, but hopefully things can work out for him, and we’re definitely looking after him and trying to keep in touch.”
