One-day specialist Maxwell ready for bigger Tests
Far from satisfied with being crowned Australia’s best ODI player, Glenn Maxwell wants to become a leader and bash down the door to Test selection.
Glenn Maxwell in action during the fourth One Day International between Australia and India. Photo: Dean Lewins, AAP.
Maxwell was a surprise selection for ODI player of the year at Cricket Australia’s awards night.
Mitchell Starc was named player of the tournament in Australia’s successful 2015 World Cup campaign but fell three votes short of Maxwell at Crown Palladium.
Maxwell was happy with the honour but also made it clear he wanted to achieve bigger and better things in 2016 – namely a Test recall.
“I felt like I did all the right things during the county season with Yorkshire, got rewarded with the Bangladesh tour and unfortunately that was taken away,” Maxwell said.
Maxwell and his partner, newsreader Candice Wyatt, arrive at Melbourne’s Crown for the Allan Border Medal. Photo: Julian Smith, AAP.
“I felt like I made some real positive strides in the last 12 months to get that opportunity… hopefully with the Test tour of Sri Lanka this year I can get rewarded with that as well.
“It doesn’t really bother me [if it’s a subcontinent Test]… but to play a home Test in front of my family would be really special.”
The 27-year-old has played only three Tests but is now one of the first picked in Australia’s ODI and Twenty20 sides.
Maxwell spoke at length of his leadership aspirations after winning the ODI gong, revealing he’d talked at length about it with Melbourne Stars coach Stephen Fleming.
“We’ve caught up and had a lot of chats about leadership, perception and all that sort of stuff,” Maxwell said.
“He’s been the guy I’ve been talking to a lot about changing the way I’ve been seen in the public view.
“He’s been really positive… really honest.
“Leadership is something that can come in a range of different ways. It can be actions, how you conduct yourself on or off the field.”
Maxwell felt he had to step up in that regard following the retirements of Michael Clarke, Brad Haddin and Mitchell Johnson.
“That’s a lot of experience we’ve lost,” he said.
“I felt like I had that role to play within the team, even being one of our fielders that we rely on to provide us with a spark.
“I really want to, later down the track… lead teams on the field and show I’m really good tactically, not just with the bat but also as a captain.”
-AAP
