Maxwell eyes Shield return to push Test claims

Having been agonisingly close to reviving his Test career last month, Glenn Maxwell has his sights set on a first-class return for Victoria this summer to push his case for a long-awaited recall.

While a return is unlikely during the coming summer with Australia's line-up relatively settled at home, next year's highly anticipated four-match tour of India in conditions where Maxwell boasts a wealth of experience, and his skill set is ideally suited, shapes as a real possibility for the 33-year-old to earn his eighth Test cap.

Maxwell hasn't played a red-ball match in almost three years and his last Test in Bangladesh was five years ago, but this summer's fixture presents a small window where many of Australia's white-ball stars could be available for the Marsh Sheffield Shield.

The white-ball superstar was brought into Australia's Test squad during the recent tour of Sri Lanka but missed out on the first Test when Travis Head recovered from a hamstring injury in time and was overlooked for the second with selectors opting for Mitchell Starc on a pitch that looked firmer and faster than expected.

But he is still holding out hope of once again donning the Baggy Green and is hoping some strong performances for Victoria in late November and early December will give selectors plenty to ponder.

"It's exciting, I haven't played (first-class cricket) since 2019," Maxwell told cricket.com.au on Monday at a BBL|12 Draft launch event.

"I did actually have a look at the schedule properly yesterday and I think I'm going to be available for a couple of Shield games before the Big Bash.

"It's nice to have that to look forward to and potentially get some red-ball cricket finally.

"It's been a long time and having that taste of just being in the Test squad was so exciting and reinvigorated and reminded myself of where I want to be.

"It's something that I've made no secret about, that I really want to play Test cricket again and I'm just hoping by the end of the summer hopefully I can be somewhere around that Test squad."

Following the T20 World Cup from October 16-November 13, Australia plays three ODIs against England from November 17-22 before the Test squad regroups for series against the West Indies and South Africa and the white-ball only players are released to their states or Big Bash clubs.

For Maxwell, it means he could potentially be available for two of Victoria's Shield games – against Tasmania at the MCG from November 24-27 and NSW at Junction Oval from December 1-4 – before KFC BBL|12 gets underway on December 13.

In perhaps a stark reminder of the demands of Australian representatives during the home summer, Maxwell has made more first-class appearances in the County Championship than the Sheffield Shield over the past four years owning to a stint at Lancashire in the 2019 winter.

The right-hander averages 46.7 in his past 12 first-class matches for Victoria since his last Test in September 2017 and his only Test century came in India earlier that year.

"I've been there more times than my Indian wife, so I think I'm well accustomed to the area and well accustomed to the people," said Maxwell of the subcontinent nation.

"It's somewhere where I feel really comfortable, and I've played a lot of cricket over there.

"I know that if I can get that opportunity, I know that it's going to be something that feels comfortable for me and somewhere I know I can be successful."

But before then, Maxwell is focused on defending the T20 World Cup title on home soil with Australia's white-ball summer to begin against Zimbabwe in Townsville on Sunday ahead of the inaugural BBL draft that evening.

"The memories of 2015 come flooding back hosting a World Cup in your own backyard," he said.

"Just the feeling around the squad and the feeling around Australia when we were travelling around trying to win a World Cup in front of our home fans was something that was so special.

"To be defending the title which we didn't have until 10 months ago is something really exciting for us and it's going to be a big challenge, especially with an added level of expectation now."

The BBL|12 Draft will be held on Sunday, August 28 and broadcast live on Foxtel and Kayo Sports following the first ODI between Australia and Zimbabwe in Townsville.

Click here for a full list of players to have nominated for the BBL|12 Draft.