Maxwell fined for Wade comments

Captain Steve Smith and Australia’s leadership party have fined allrounder Glenn Maxwell for his “disrespectful” comments towards his state skipper and ODI teammate Matthew Wade.

Maxwell said on Thursday he felt as though batting below Wade at No.6 for Victoria in Sheffield Shield cricket hurt his selection chances for Australia’s third Test against South Africa in Adelaide last week. 

Bupa Support Team Head Coach Darren Lehmann described Maxwell’s words as “disappointing” following the Victorian’s press conference, with Smith and Australia’s senior members deciding to punish the 28-year-old with a monetary penalty. 

“Everyone was disappointed in his comments,” Smith said. 

“I’ve expressed that to him myself and spoke to the team. 

“One of our values is respect and having respect for your teammates, opposition, the fans, the media. 

“I thought what he said was very disrespectful to a teammate and his Victorian captain. 

“The leadership group got together and we decided to fine Glenn. 

“We thought that was a sufficient punishment. 

“We’ve gone down that path and I was disappointed with the comments that he made.

“Wadey was pretty disappointed as well, like all the other players. 

“As I said I talk about a respect thing for your teammates and particularly the captain of your state. 

“He was disappointed but we’ve moved on from that now.”

While he has been fined, Maxwell is available for selection for Sunday’s first Victoria Bitter ODI Series clash against New Zealand at the SCG. 

The right-hander said on Thursday he felt as though he was a chance of being selected in Australia’s new-look Test team following the cleanout after the innings defeat in Hobart that surrendered the Commonwealth Bank Series to the Proteas with a match to play.

Maxwell lamented batting below Wade in the Bushrangers batting line-up, saying it hindered his selection chances, which Lehmann later refuted. 

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“I think probably batting below the wicketkeeper is also a bit painful as well,” Maxwell said on Thursday.

“The wicketkeeper should be batting at seven unless you're trying to squeeze an extra bowler into your line-up.”

Smith said Maxwell was “shattered” when he heard his punishment.

“I don’t think he (Maxwell) thought the words came out the way they actually did,” Smith said. 

“We’ve moved on from that now. 

“We’ve fined him and expressed our disappointment towards what he said and moving on and trying to focus on this game tomorrow.”

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