KP launches at Australian selector

Former England batsman Kevin Pietersen has slammed the non-selection of the dynamic Glenn Maxwell for the third Commonwealth Bank Test, declaring the unpredictable allrounder has the ability to change matches.

While Ashton Agar and Steve O’Keefe have been called into Australia’s squad for the match against Pakistan at the SCG, starting on January 3, Pietersen believed his Melbourne Stars teammate deserved consideration on what is expected to be a spin-friendly wicket.

Pietersen launched an attack on co-commentator and national selector Mark Waugh during Channel Ten’s broadcast of last night’s KFC Big Bash League clash between the Brisbane Heat and Hobart Hurricanes.

Pietersen, the fifth most prolific batsman in England Test history, even went as far to suggest Waugh’s position should be reviewed.

“I am surprised you still have a job to be fair,” he said.

Maxwell has played three Tests, his last appearance coming in November 2014, and has not donned national colours since Australia's Twenty20 fixture against Sri Lanka in September.

The 28-year-old has been in the headlines after being fined an undisclosed amount by his Australian ODI teammates earlier this month after questioning Victoria captain Matthew Wade's decision to bat himself above Maxwell in the Bushrangers' batting order.

Maxwell was selected in Australia's squad for the series against New Zealand earlier this month but failed to break into the XI.

“He can bat at six, he can give you a few overs of off spin and get you some wickets and his fielding is phenomenal — he’s a freak show in the field,” Pietersen said.

“Give him a run (batting) at six and he will change the game.

“Glenn Maxwell has got to play.

“Having watched a lot of cricket and played in the modern-day era he is one of the better players in the world.”

Waugh replied: “I don’t think anyone will disagree with you.”

Maxwell has experienced a lean summer with the bat in the Sheffield Shield so far with 129 runs at 25.8, but he hit 392 runs from nine innings at 56 in 2015-16.And his overall first-class average of 39.92 from 46 matches, including five tons and 17 half-centuries, shows he is capable of building an innings in the longer format.

Uncapped allrounder Hilton Cartwright has also been retained in the 13-man squad as Australia chases a 3-0 series sweep, while Nic Maddinson and Chadd Sayers have been cut.

After Australia slipped to a 2-0 deficit against South Africa after a crushing loss in Hobart, selectors ushered in a new era by including debutants Peter Handscomb, Matthew Renshaw and Maddinson for the third Test, while Matthew Wade and Jackson Bird were recalled.

The world’s No.2-ranked Test side has since won three consecutive Tests and swept aside the Kiwis 3-0 in their Chappell-Hadlee Trophy ODI series.

Speaking after Maxwell was left out of Victoria’s team for their Sheffield Shield season opener against Tasmania in October, Waugh was glowing in his praise for the belligerent batsman.

"He should have been playing," Waugh, one of four national selectors, told Fox Sports' Inside Cricket in November.

"He's definitely in the best 11 players in Victoria. From an Australian point of view, he's quite capable of playing Test match cricket.

"You need to be asking the Victorian selectors why they left him out. It surely can't be cricket-related because he would be in the team.

"The problem is, they have come out and won the game. It will be tough for him to get back in. He should be in that team. His record is far better than most of the players in the team."

Former captain Ricky Ponting has called for Maxwell to be picked for Australia's tour of India next year, with the first Test to be played in Pune from February 23.

"I would take him in the squad, definitely," Ponting said on Channel Ten.

"You need a batting spin bowler. There'll be other names mentioned, too, like Ashton Agar, I think his name will certainly come up.

"I think (Maxwell's bowling) is quite good, it's quite consistent. He's not an out-and-out Test first-choice spin bowler, but he is useful. Moeen Ali has developed into quite a good spinner now having played a couple of years for England."