This means Maxwell will play his first Test match since 2017 when he playe against Bangladesh in Chattogram and his first first-class match since 2019 if he is included in the game next Wednesday. In seven Tests he has played in subcontinent, his high score was 104 against India in Ranchi.
Before the tour, George Bailey held the door open for Maxwell’s return. He has been in good touch during ODIs, scoring 30 and 33 with an unbeaten 80 in the first game.
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“We know Glenn has had some success in situations like this and we are looking forward to him coming back and playing a good block of cricket through T20 and one-day cricket,” Bailey said. “If that lights up or someone else does something particularly well, there are always going to be opportunities.”
Ahead of the trip, Glenn Maxwell said he understood why he was not part of the Test squad but did not give up hope of getting another chance.
“A guy who hasn’t played any first-class cricket would be a random pick,” he told cricket.com.au. “I know it’s specific to my skills and the way I bowl slow, especially in these conditions, that might be something to impress him.
“But I think the way he has shown faith in his current team is fantastic. It’s good that the door hasn’t closed but I also thought it was good that he showed faith in that team.”
Head suffered an injury late in the fourth match and has only six days to recover before the first Test in Galle. The GPS data showed that Head ran 26 km in the field in the third and fourth matches of the series. Tensions are said to be on the minor side but if he is not available for the opening game next Wednesday, Australia will have to make changes in their middle order.
Maxwell has been called up before any Australia A batsman taking part in the four-day match against Sri Lanka including Marcus Harris, Matt Renshaw and Nick Maddinson.
However, three of the A team’s spinners – John Holland, Matthew Kuhneman and Todd Murphy – will remain with the Test team in Sri Lanka to aid in preparations and further their development. Kuhneman has already been a part of the ODI squad after Ashton Agar’s injury and could get more promotion if Australia picks three spinners during the Tests.