Maxwell eyes subcontinent Tests, but wedding comes first

While Glenn Maxwell's wedding in front of 350 of his closest friends and a beefed-up security detail will take precedence over the upcoming tour of Pakistan, the enigmatic allrounder hopes a Test comeback might still be on the cards this year.

Details of Maxwell's upcoming nuptials to Vini Raman, who is of Indian descent, were leaked online when the invitation to the traditional Hindu ceremony that will involve three separate events over the course of a week surfaced.

A former Indian Premier League teammate alerted Maxwell that the invitation to the Melbourne event, printed in Tamil, was being shared online.

"It was not ideal," Maxwell, who top-scored with 39 off 26 balls in Australia's series-clinching third T20I win over Sri Lanka on Tuesday, told cricket.com.au. "We've got to get extra security for the wedding now.

"It was supposed to be a private event and unfortunately the relatives over in India just got a little bit excited and decide to show a few friends.

"Next minute, it's in pretty much every paper over there and I'm getting tweeted it by pretty much everyone.

"So that was that was a shock. It's been a busy couple of days."

Maxwell had originally arranged the dates for the "small Hindu wedding" welcoming around 350 guests so as not to overlap with the Pakistan tour which will see Australia travel abroad to play Test cricket for first time since the pandemic started.

But the dates of the three-Test series changed, meaning Maxwell, understandably prioritising his upcoming nuptials which have already been postponed due to the pandemic, made himself unavailable for the historic campaign.

The 33-year-old has not pulled on the Baggy Green in over four years and would likely have been a long shot to make the tour anyway.

But his skills against spin bowling and strong record on the subcontinent – he scored a century during the 2017 Test tour to India – could have counted in his favour.

He hopes that will be the case when selectors pick their squad for the Test tour of Sri Lanka, expected to be held in June this year, as well for Australia's next series in India.

"I'd love to be available for the Sri Lanka Test matches this year," said Maxwell.

"There's still other options and other series that I could potentially put my hand up for.

"It's just got to be right time, right place and hopefully I can sneak my way into the squad and add to a couple of Test runs and add a couple of Test caps. That'd be nice."

Instead of going to Pakistan, Maxwell expects to pull on the navy blue for Victoria in the Marsh One-Day Cup at the conclusion of the Dettol T20I series but does not expect to be available for any Sheffield Shield matches this season.

There are three ODIs and a sole T20I to be played at the back-end of the Pakistan tour, with selectors yet to pick a squad for those matches, before Maxwell links up with his Indian Premier League franchise Royal Challengers Bangalore in April.

Dettol T20 Series v Sri Lanka 2022

Australia squad: Aaron Finch (c), Ashton Agar, Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head*, Moises Henriques, Josh Inglis, Ben McDermott, Glenn Maxwell, Jhye Richardson, Kane Richardson, Daniel Sams, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, Matthew Wade, Adam Zampa * unavailable for first three matches

Sri Lanka squad: Dasun Shanaka (c), Charith Asalanka, Avishka Fernando, Pathum Nissanka, Danushka Gunathilaka, Kusal Mendis, Dinesh Chandimal, Chamika Karunaratne, Janith Liyanage, Kamil Mishara, Ramesh Mendis, Wanindu Hasaranga, Lahiru Kumara, Nuwan Thushara, Dushmantha Chameera, Binura Fernando, Maheesh Theekshana, Jeffrey Vandersay, Praveen Jayawickrama, Shiran Fernando

Game 1: Australia won by 20 runs (DLS)

Game 2: Australia won in a Super Over

Game 3: Australia won by six wickets

February 18: Fourth T20, MCG, 7.10pm AEDT

February 20: Fifth T20, MCG, 5.10pm AEDT

All matches broadcast exclusively on Fox Cricket and Kayo Sports. Radio coverage by ABC Grandstand, Triple M and SEN