All-rounder Glenn Maxwell has backed the Australia selector’s decision after being ignored for the upcoming two-match test series of Australia’s tour of Sri Lanka 2025.
The veteran has been desperate to make a comeback into the red-ball cricket on an away tour for ages but was once again not considered for the role.
Australia named several spin bowling options in the Australia squad for the Sri Lanka tests, including Nathan Lyon, Matthew Kuhnemann and Todd Murphy along with all-rounders and some part-time options like Travis Head, Marnus Labuschagne, Beau Webster and Cooper Connolly.
Maxwell’s last red-ball cricket was in July 2023 when he played for Kent against Warwickshire in the County Championship. His seven tests have come from 2017 in the subcontinent.
He was unavailable for the Border Gavaskar Trophy 2023 in India after breaking his leg after the T20 World Cup 2022.
“It’s just selection. There’s always going to be people wanting to be there and I made no secret that I desperately wanted to be on that tour, but I can completely understand their reasoning,” said Maxwell.
“The fact that they’re already in the World Test Championship final, they’ve got a couple of Tests in Sri Lanka and there’s going to be some sub-continent tours over the next few years, so they get to look a few new guys in those conditions,” he added
Maxwell has consecutive fifties in BBL 2024-25 for the Melbourne Stars and was named as the Player of the Match against Sixers and Renegades have propelled the franchise to the fifth place in the BBL points table.
“What an experience for those guys to go over there – Cooper Connolly on his first Test tour – I certainly would’ve made the same decision as they have,” Maxwell added.
The first match of the Australia-Sri Lanka tests will begin on January 29 at Galle International Stadium.
