Maxwell holds hope of making Test return

Glenn Maxwell has kept his Test dream alive, revealing he still talks to selectors on how he can return to Australia’s red-ball team.

Maxwell has not played a Test since the Bangladesh tour of 2017, overlooked ever since and pigeonholed as a white-ball specialist.

In the time since, Australia have picked some 17 top and middle-order batsmen with Maxwell's absence including the period when Steve Smith and David Warner were banned.

But the 35-year-old has not given up on reclaiming his spot, having averaged 41.20 in first-class cricket since being last dropped.

"It's definitely realistic," Maxwell said.

"I think I am probably playing as well as ever have at the moment.

"I feel really good about my game. I have been able to work on different techniques for different formats, which has really helped going forward.

"I have been in constant contact with selectors and they have been really clear about if opportunities do pop up then I am ready for red ball."

Maxwell has long stressed he is a different red-ball player since he last represented Australia, having worked hard on his defence in the format.

Since his seventh and last Test in September 2017, he has managed just 16 first-class matches and will again enter this summer's Big Bash without a Sheffield Shield match.

All of of his Tests have also come in Asia, after he was dropped ahead of the home Ashes in 2017-18 and responded with 278 in a game against NSW.

But if he is to ever reclaim his spot, it could likely only come in 2022 where Australia have tours of Pakistan, Sri Lanka and India looming.

"Next year is obviously a heavy sub-continent tour year. There could be opportunities with guys coming in and out," the Melbourne Stars captain said.

"There is a lot of cricket next year, you don't want to burn guys out through the season so there could be a host of changes.

"So I have to make sure I am playing well when they pick those squads in any format.”

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