Yorkshire waiting on Maxwell after Australian all-rounder left out of Ashes squad

YORKSHIRE director of cricket Martyn Moxon has described Glenn Maxwell as a “victim of circumstance” after the dynamic all-rounder was left out of Australia’s Ashes squad.
Glenn Maxwell (Getty Images)Glenn Maxwell (Getty Images)
Glenn Maxwell (Getty Images)

Maxwell, whose explosive batting helped power Australia to World Cup glory, was left out of the 17-man party and instead chosen for Australia’s A tour of India in July.

Yorkshire, who have signed the 26-year-old for T20 cricket this summer, are seeking clarification from Cricket Australia as to how long the player will be needed by his country, with the club playing six of their 14 T20 group games in July.

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Maxwell has been chosen for the four-day leg of the tour only as Australia feel they already know enough about his one-day capabilities, and Moxon feels it is the player’s lack of first-class experience that has cost him a place in the Ashes squad.

“I know one of the problems he’s got at the minute is that he’s not playing a lot of red-ball cricket,” said Moxon.Gillespie hails job done by Lehmann

“He’s been involved in the IPL, he’s been involved in Australia’s one-day and T20 squads, but he’s not getting much domestic red-ball cricket, so it’s difficult for him to put the performances on the board to push his claim.

“That’s one of the big reasons he wants to play red-ball cricket over here for our second team - or potentially for the first-team if Aaron Finch is injured.

“So I think he’s a victim of circumstance really.”

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Moxon’s comments were echoed by Australia’s National Selector Rod Marsh, who suggested Maxwell was unlucky to miss out on an Ashes berth.

The right-hander was one of the stars of the World Cup, scoring 324 runs at 64.8 with a strike-rate of 182, treating the crowds to some of the most audacious strokes the games has ever seen.

Moxon, who is keen to see a much-improved showing from Yorkshire in T20 this summer, believes Maxwell has the talent to adapt to all forms of the game.

The Melbourne-born star has a reputation as a one-day/T20 specialist and has only played 31 first-class matches - including three Tests, the last of them against Pakistan in Abu Dhabi last November.

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Maxwell, who will join Yorkshire later next month after a stint with Kings XI Punjab in the Indian Premier League, also purveys a handy line in off-spin.

Australia’s spinners for the Ashes are Nathan Lyon and the supporting act of Fawad Ahmed, a Pakistan-born wrist-spinner who got the vote over Ashton Agar.

Fawad, 33, has played three one-day internationals and two T20 internationals but has yet to make his Test debut.

He claimed asylum in Australia in 2010, and his citizenship was fast-tracked three years later.

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Fawad, along with the 35-year-old batsman Adam Voges, has been rewarded for a splendid season at domestic level.

He was the leading wicket-taker in the Sheffield Shield with 48 at 24.85, including record-breaking figures of 8-89 for champions Victoria in the final, while Voges was named Sheffield Shield Player of the Year after firing 1,358 runs for Western Australia at 104.46.

Australia will head to England after visiting the West Indies, where they play two Test matches in June.

Ryan Harris, the 35-year-old pace bowler, will miss the Caribbean trip due to paternity leave.

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Australia’s Ashes squad: Michael Clarke (captain), Steve Smith, Fawad Ahmed, Brad Haddin, Josh Hazlewood, Ryan Harris, Mitchell Johnson, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Shaun Marsh, Peter Nevill, Chris Rogers, Peter Siddle, Mitchell Starc, Adam Voges, David Warner, Shane Watson.

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