Maxwell settling into new, unorthodox set-up

Batting dynamo Glenn Maxwell is set to unveil a tinkered technique at the Adelaide Oval today as Australia's men kick-start their home summer with a T20 International against Sri Lanka.

Maxwell, the world's No.2 T20 batsman, made a stunning match-winning century in Australia's most recent T20I – exactly eight months ago in India – but came under fire during a disappointing World Cup campaign in which questions were asked about his capacity to handle the short ball.

Long-time mentor Ricky Ponting said during the tournament that Maxwell wasn't "a natural hooker and puller of the ball" but the Victorian insists the shots are strong scoring options for him.

"I didn't think it was fair," Maxwell told News Ltd of the criticism. "I was getting targeted with (short balls) because I was taking it on so much, and I find it's a massive scoring option for me.

"If they're not bowling at my stumps then I think it's a great thing for me. I'd much rather them bowl there than at my stumps."

The comments echo those of Maxwell's superstar teammate Steve Smith, who was concussed during the second Ashes Test in England after being felled by a Jofra Archer short ball, only to return with a double-century in the fourth Test after which he suggested England had played into his hands by pitching short instead of at the stumps.

Like Smith, Maxwell has found comfort in the unorthodox as he continues to make refinements to how he sets up at the crease.

"I've been tinkering with a few things technically-wise and trying to work on something that's more comfortable for me just in my set-up," he said. "It's starting to show signs of working. I think you'll certainly notice it … it's different, but it's how I feel comfortable.

"A lot of the time when you're batting you're trying to stick to the norm of what everyone else is doing, but I went away and worked on some things and tried to think of what made me feel comfortable at the crease and this makes me feel comfortable. I'll stick with it."

The 31-year-old has been Australia's standout T20 performer in the past two years with 675 runs at 45 and a strike-rate of 150, and looms as a trump card if Justin Langer's side is to break its ICC T20 World Cup duck when they host the tournament next October.

The run to that tournament begins today in Adelaide, with Smith set to play his first T20 International since March 2016 and David Warner also returning to the side alongside star pace pair Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc.

The three-match series against Sri Lanka will be followed closely by another three-match series against Pakistan.

Gillette T20 INTLs v Sri Lanka

Australia squad: Aaron Finch (c), Ashton Agar, Alex Carey, Pat Cummins, Glenn Maxwell, Ben McDermott, Kane Richardson, Steve Smith, Billy Stanlake, Mitchell Starc, Ashton Turner, David Warner, Adam Zampa, Sean Abbott (from game two)

Sri Lanka squad: Lasith Malinga (c), Kusal Perera, Kusal Mendis, Danushka Gunathilaka, Avishka Fernando, Niroshan Dickwella, Dasun Shanaka, Shehan Jayasuriya, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Oshada Fernando, Wanindu Hasaranga, Lakshan Sandakan, Nuwan Pradeep, Lahiru Kumara, Isuru Udana, Kasun Rajitha

October 27: First T20I, Adelaide Oval, 2pm (Fox & Kayo)

October 30: Second T20I, Gabba, 6.10pm (Fox & Kayo)

November 1: Third T20I, MCG, 7.10pm (Fox & Kayo)

Gillette T20 INTLs v Pakistan

Pakistan squad: Babar Azam (c), Asif Ali, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Sohail, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Imam-ul-Haq, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Irfan, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Musa Khan, Shadab Khan, Usman Qadir.

November 3: First T20I, SCG, 2.30pm (Fox & Kayo)

November 5: Second T20I, Manuka Oval, 7.10pm (Fox & Kayo)

November 8: Third T20I, Perth Stadium, 4.30pm (Fox & Kayo)