Glenn Maxwell: “We get along really well, we’ve got a good friendship”

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Australia all-rounder Glenn Maxwell has played down rumours that relations between him and captain Steve Smith are frosty.

Smith made headlines when naming Australia’s ODI squad for the five-match series against England as he said Maxwell, who had been dropped, needed to “train a little bit smarter” and cut out all the “funky stuff”.

However, Maxwell is set to be recalled to the side after big-hitting batsman Chris Lynn was ruled out of the series with a calf injury.

Former Australia pace bowler Stuart Clark expressed his concerns about a potential rift between Maxwell and Smith, and suggested that a mediation session may be needed to clear the air.

“I think that horse has already bolted,” Clark told Fox Sports News on Tuesday. “They’d deal with it. They’d have to deal with it. Steve Smith’s the captain of Australia, Glenn Maxwell wants to play for Australia.

“Whatever has to happen will have to happen. Darren Lehmann might be the arbitrator there.”

However, speaking after the Melbourne Stars’ loss to the Adelaide Strikers in the Big Bash League (BBL), Maxwell, who smashed an entertaining 60 for the Stars, was quoted by stuff.co.nz as saying: “I’ll address that [Smith’s comments] with Steven personally.

“I’ll sit down with Steve when he gets to Melbourne and have a chat with him. We get along really well, we’ve got a good friendship. He’s only trying to get the best out of me as the Australian skipper – there’s not much you can say to the guy who’s second-best to the Don.

“I’ll listen to him and do my best to get on his right side and do everything I can to play for Australia.”

Meanwhile, Strikers captain Travis Head revealed that Maxwell had been gutted about his omission from the ODI squad.

“I played golf with him in the morning so I know he’s disappointed,” Head said. “He’s not in at the minute. We’ll have to see what happens.

“He batted beautifully … he was looking dangerous and it was nice to get him out with a couple of overs to spare. He showed tonight how high-quality he is.”