Durban (South Africa): Australia’s star all-rounder Glenn Maxwell is in a race against time as he battles a fresh injury with just a month to go before the ICC ODI World Cup. Maxwell has injured his ankle. The injury occurred during a training session in Durban ahead of Australia’s T20I series against South Africa on Wednesday. He will now fly home with his wife as they await the birth of their first child.
Maxwell is expected to recover from his ankle injury in due course, but national selector Tony Dodemide has made it clear that no chances will be taken given the 34-year-old’s injury history, which included a fractured ankle at the end of last year. The party also includes a serious injury to his leg. Nevertheless, Dodamide is confident that Maxwell will be ready for Australia’s ODI series against India next month. “We will monitor Glenn’s recovery so that he is available for the three-match ODI series in India before the World Cup,” he said.
An all-rounder, Maxwell has played 128 ODIs and scored 3490 runs at an average of 33.88 and a strike rate of 124.82. He has also taken 60 wickets at an economy rate of 5.56. Maxwell’s injury has opened the way for a comeback for Matthew Wade who has been recalled to the T20I squad for the series against South Africa and could provide another wicketkeeping option alongside Josh Inglis. Maxwell is not the only player absent from Australia’s T20I squad. Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Cameron Green and David Warner are also not part of the team.
Australia T20 squad against South Africa:
Mitchell Marsh (c), Sean Abbott, Tim Davids, Ben Dwarshuis, Nathan Ellis, Aaron Hardy, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Spencer Johnson, Matt Short, Marcus Stoinis, Ashton Turner, Matthew Wade, Adam Zampa.