After losing five consecutive ODIs, Australia have a tall order in front of them ahead of the upcoming ODI series against New Zealand. Throwing some more spanner in the works is the ongoing rift between wicketkeeper Matthew Wade and all-rounder Glenn Maxwell, which Australia coach Darren Lehmann has looked to diffuse but not before the all-rounder was fined for his comments.
Glenn Maxwell, who hasn’t had an easy year with the Australian team, isn’t happy with Wade’s decision to promote himself ahead of Maxwell in the batting order for the Australian domestic side Victoria, for whom Wade is the captain.
Extra Cover: Watch: Kevin Pietersen trolls Australian wicketkeeper Matthew Wade on air
"I think the wicketkeeper should be batting at seven unless you're trying to squeeze an extra bowler into your line-up," Maxwell said on Thursday. And when he was pressed further on why Wade was batting ahead of him, he was quick to remark, “Because he’s captain, and he chooses the batting order.”
Australian captain Steven Smith admitted he was disappointed and said: “I’ve expressed that to him myself and spoke to the team. One of our values is respect and having respect for your teammates, opposition, the fans, the media. I thought what he said was very disrespectful to a teammate and his Victorian captain."
Maxwell’s comments certainly haven’t gone down too well with not just the Australian coach who has sought to enter in peace talks between the pair but also several former and current Victoria players and captains but Mitchell Johnson was quick come to the all-rounder’s aide.
Victoria batsman Rob Quiney was quick to suggest that Maxwell should just stop talking and let his bat do all the talking for him. Speaking to EON Sports radio on Friday, Quiney said: “I think he needs to lip it and just make some runs. Victoria are flying at the moment, but he's not setting the world on fire himself. He's actually only batted at six twice so I don't know where this has come from. It's good that he's honest, unfortunately it's probably not the greatest attitude to have, I reckon.”
Speaking to another station, former Victoria captain Darren Berry wasn’t too pleased either, as he slammed the all-rounder for making such statements in public.
He said: "That's 'me, me, me' stuff isn't it? It’s a team sport and he's batting at six. Cameron White's batting behind him at seven. Cameron White didn't come out and criticise Matthew Wade [...] you just don't do it.”
Lehmann to intervene
These statements and backlash have come on the back of Maxwell being dropped from the Australian ODI team since the tri-series in June despite being named the side’s ODI Cricketer of the Year and only just returning for the three-match ODI series against New Zealand.
In the domestic circuit as well, his request for a transfer to New South Wales was blocked by his current side, Victoria, who also left the all-rounder out of their team for the first Sheffield Shield match of the season.
"Yeah, we will (speak about it)," Lehmann said about the all-rounder’s comments. "Obviously disappointed but we'll work through those issues. It's difficult but again we'll work through it behind the scenes. We're confident they can work together.”
He had also earlier said that there was no chance of picking Maxwell in the Test team despite the all-rounder’s wish to be picked for the Adelaide Test. "No. Because he hasn't made 100 for the last two years. You need to make 100," Lehmann said. "Are you going to pick a bloke that hasn't made 100 for two years?”
Maxwell may not be incredibly consistent but he has some audacious shots in his repertoire.
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