Glenn Maxwell wants his name on all three team sheets
As one of the more senior players around, Maxwell had a good opportunity to make a big case for himself in the period between Australia’s Test tour of South Africa and the one-day international tri-series in Zimbabwe.
Australia haven’t played Test cricket since the series during which Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft were suspended, but Maxwell hasn’t always managed to strike it rich in the chances he has got in the shorter formats, of which there have been many fixtures.
There has been the odd big knock, but consistency has been lacking.
Next up for Australia is the tour of the United Arab Emirates to play Pakistan in two Tests and three Twenty20 Internationals in October. Maxwell wants to play those Tests, and add to the seven he has played to date.
“This is going to be a big summer potentially, to hopefully solidify myself in all three formats,” he told SEN Radio.
He has had a few days off, and is happy to get some time to himself. “To have this break before what could be a really big year for me is really pivotal,” he said. “It gives me a great opportunity to work at my game, get myself up to a level that I think I can reach by the end of this season and hopefully be on that Ashes trip straight after the (2019 ICC Cricket) World Cup next year.
“That's the main goal at the end of this, to have such a good 12 months that I can write my name on that team sheet.”
Prior to that, in September, the Australia A side travel to India to play two four-day games. It’s a tour Justin Langer, the Australia coach, has given a lot of importance to, but Maxwell isn’t fussed over not being in the touring party.
Maxwell, memorably, scored his maiden – and so far only – Test century in India during the 2017 tour, and referred to that when he said, “I've been to India 16 or 17 times now, it's not a place where they (the selectors) need to see me play. They've seen me play over there enough. I had a bit of success in the Test series last year, it's not hugely foreign to me.
“I haven't been given any indication (about the Pakistan Tests) but there has been a lot of positive reinforcement that I didn't need to go on that Aussie A tour. Even though there wasn't any specific words, I did feel confident walking away that, alright they're giving me an opportunity to prepare for that Test tour.”