News from Australia – Glenn Maxwell has been called up to return to the Victoria second eleven

Maxwell has been named for his first four-day game in over 12 months as he begins preparations for a possible participation in Australia's Test tour of Sri Lanka early next year.

The rules in CA's Second Maxwell's workload will be carefully monitored given the horrific leg injury he sustained two years ago. He will be 36 on matchday one and has only played two first-class games in the last five years.

Victoria coach Chris Rogers was delighted that Maxwell was able to play with some of Victoria's young players in the second eleven, but was unsure when he will have him available for Shield cricket.

“This is an opportunity for us,” Rogers said. “We have a lot of young players playing and it’s great for us too when you bring in someone with that experience and talk about batting and fielding and strategy.”

Australia's selectors could also feature him in a two-day pink-ball match between the Prime Minister's XI and India starting November 30 in Canberra.

Maxwell is a serious contender for Australia's Test tour of Sri Lanka given his Test experience in the subcontinent. Maxwell was part of the Sri Lanka tour in 2022 and almost played the first Test in Galle, with his skills as a spin-bowling all-rounder seen as an advantage in spinning conditions, particularly when the Tests are designed for low scores and fast movement are .

All of his seven Test matches have been played in the subcontinent, with his last coming in Bangladesh in 2017. The selectors had previously charged that Shield cricket had no relevance to Test cricket in Sri Lanka as the conditions and style of cricket were completely different, but it is understood that both Maxwell and the Australian selectors are interested in it are that from a physical point of view he plays a bit of red-ball cricket.

“He has a good overview,” Rogers said. “This game was probably a bit of a stretch as he had to bowl on consecutive days and multiple appearances. “But he is ready for the second XI and hopefully that sets him up well for the Shield game against New South Wales.”

Victorian second XI squad: Will Sutherland (lead actor), Austin Anlezark, Liam Blackford, Dylan Brasher, Xavier Crone, Harry Dixon, Jai Lemire, Reilley Mark, Glenn Maxwell, Jon Merlo, David Moody, Doug Warren