Glenn Maxwell failed to retain his spot in Australia’s ODI squad
Image courtesy of: Zimbio
Australia all-rounder Glenn Maxwell has been axed from the ODI squad, but big-hitting batsman Chris Lynn and wicketkeeper Tim Paine were recalled to the side.
Australia captain Steve Smith hinted that he was getting increasingly tired of Maxwell’s inability to become a reliable batsman in the shorter formats. While the 29-year-old does have flashes of brilliance, it appears he is not consistent enough to warrant a place in the ODI team.
“I think just looking at the way he trains I think he could train a little bit smarter,” Smith said. “We’ve all seen the way Glenn can come out and play and do all his funky stuff and be pretty cool with that, but when he puts his head down he’s actually a really good batsman, as we’ve seen in Shield cricket he’s got some big runs there.
“If he keeps his head switched on and trains really well and focuses on basic things more so than the expansive things, then I think that’ll help him have his consistency and if he’s having those consistent performances he’s certainly a person you want in your team.
“We’ve got a really strong side. Lots of power-hitting in the middle with Chris Lynn, Mitch Marsh, [Marcus] Stoinis, guys that have done well. It’s unlucky on Glenn, but if we look back at his last 20 one-dayers I think he’s averaged around 20 and he’s come back and played some pretty good Shield cricket but we want to keep seeing some consistent performances from him and keep putting his name up there, I think that’s the most important thing for him.”
Selection chairman Trevor Hohns echoed Smith’s sentiments and said that if Maxwell turned his game around, he would most likely be a shoo-in.
“No-one is in any doubt about Glenn’s ability or his potential to produce match-winning contributions with the bat,” Hohns said. “What we have wanted from him is more consistency but in his past 20 matches in this format he has averaged 22 and we need more than that from a player in the side’s batting engine room.
“Glenn is still absolutely in our thoughts, but for this series we have decided to look again at Chris Lynn, who is now back playing once more after the shoulder injury that hampered him when we picked him against Pakistan in this format 12 months ago. He has been one of the most feared players at domestic level in limited-overs cricket in the past couple of years and we want to see if he can convert that domestic form to the international stage.”
Hohns added that the clock is ticking for those who want to make their presence felt and be part of the Australian squad for the 2019 World Cup in England and Wales.
“With our defence of the ICC Cricket World Cup just 17 months away, we are seeking to get a squad in place that can form the basis of the line-up for that campaign and at the same time regain ground in the ODI rankings, given we have slipped from the number one position over the past 12 months,” he said. “There will still be further opportunities for players to force their way into the reckoning for the squad to go to England and Wales in 2019 but the sooner we can settle on our best combination and get them playing together and in form on a regular basis then the better our chances will be of retaining the trophy we won at home in 2015.”
Meanwhile, Paine was brought back into the side to replace fellow wicketkeeper Matthew Wade. Even though Paine has not played ODI cricket since April 2011, he averages 29.48 in the 26 matches he has featured in and also has a century and five fifties to his name.
Tim Paine made his comeback during the ongoing Ashes series and is now set to play his first ODI in nearly seven years
Image courtesy of: Zimbio
“Tim forced his way into the Twenty20 International squad last summer, and after coming back into the Test squad at the beginning of the Ashes series he has made a terrific contribution with bat and gloves,” Hohns said. “He deserves his opportunity in this form of the game and the challenge for Matthew is to return to the type of form that saw him score a one-day international hundred against Pakistan last summer.”
Hohns also admitted that the selectors have been highly impressed with the pace duo of Andrew Tye and Jhye Richardson, who have excelled in the ongoing season of the Big Bash League.
Tye is the tournament’s leading wicket-taker with 13 victims at an average of 8.38. Not only has he taken a five-for, but he also claimed a stunning hat-trick as well.
“The three fast bowlers that made key contributions to us regaining The Ashes have all been included as we want to have some firepower with the ball during this ODI series,” Hohns said. “However, at the same time, we are conscious that they have had heavy workloads during the Tests and so on that basis it is likely we will give each of them some deserved time off at different stages during this series.
“Jhye featured in the Twenty20 international series against Sri Lanka last summer, is someone we have had our eyes on for a while and he is the complete package: he bowls with good pace, he has got good variations in short-form cricket, is a good fielder and is a handy batsman too. He was also the joint leading wicket-taker in the one-day cup that Western Australia won at the start of the summer and so he fully deserves his spot.
“Andrew Tye is in outstanding limited-overs form as he is demonstrating in the Big Bash League, is another player who did extremely well in the one-day cup for Western Australia and merits his chance to try and cement a spot in the 50-over side after having played in the recent T20 international series in India.”
The five-match ODI series between Australia and England gets underway on January 14 in Melbourne.
Australia’s ODI Squad: Steve Smith (capt), David Warner, Pat Cummins, Aaron Finch, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Chris Lynn, Mitchell Marsh, Tim Paine, Jhye Richardson, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, Andrew Tye, Adam Zampa