Maxwell aims to be ready for the second half of the T20I series against India

Maxwell aims to be ready for the second half of the T20I series against India

Glenn Maxwell remains hopeful of playing in the latter half of Australia’s upcoming T20I series against India, despite undergoing surgery on his fractured right wrist just last week. The injury occurred during a net session when Maxwell was struck by a powerful shot from teammate Mitchell Owen while bowling.

He was immediately flown home to consult a specialist and opted for surgery to speed up his recovery, aiming to be fit within four weeks. This decision was made to give himself a slim chance of featuring in the final three matches of the five-game series, which concludes on November 8.

Although Maxwell wasn’t named in the squad for the first two T20Is on October 29 and 31, he’s targeting a return for the third match in Hobart on November 2, followed by games on the Gold Coast and Brisbane. Speaking in Melbourne, he shared that his cast was removed recently and he’s now wearing a moulded plastic splint.

He’s begun light wrist movements under the guidance of a hand therapist, focusing on basic exercises to rebuild strength. The main concern now is pain management, especially when batting, but there’s no major risk of further injury if he returns cautiously.

This wrist fracture adds to Maxwell’s list of unusual injuries, which includes a broken leg at a birthday party and a concussion from falling off a golf cart. He admitted the latest injury was unlucky and has made him rethink bowling to power hitters like Owen, Marcus Stoinis, Tim David, and Cameron Green in the nets. Going forward, he plans to bowl more safely during practice, especially with the BBL season approaching.

Maxwell was particularly disappointed to miss the New Zealand series, as he was in excellent form. In August, he played a match-winning T20I innings against South Africa, scoring 62 not out off 36 balls.

Then in September, he smashed 107 off 82 balls in a domestic One-Day Cup match for Victoria against Queensland, despite having retired from ODI cricket earlier in the year. When asked about his long-term plans, including the 2028 Olympics, Maxwell said he’s only focused on the start of the BBL season and isn’t setting any career deadlines.

Looking ahead, Maxwell is excited about the upcoming BBL season and hopes to lead the Melbourne Stars to their first title. He was named the joint Player of the Tournament last season and helped the Stars reach the finals for the first time since their heartbreaking loss to the Melbourne Renegades in the 2019–20 final. He also expressed enthusiasm about the arrival of Indian spin legend R Ashwin in the BBL, calling it a huge boost for the league. Maxwell believes Ashwin’s experience and cricketing wisdom will benefit not just his team, Sydney Thunder, but also players across the competition and attract plenty of fans to the tournament.