Glenn Maxwell has mentioned that he’ll need to carefully manage his preparation for the ODI World Cup and might not participate in all the lead-up matches against India.
This decision comes after he was unable to play in the recent T20I series in South Africa due to ankle soreness linked to his previous leg injury.
Maxwell’s time in South Africa was cut short to just four days as he experienced discomfort in his left ankle while running during his initial training session.
This is the same leg that he described as being “snapped in half” in a freak accident last November. Although he still has screws in his ankle from surgery, the recent soreness is from a different area than his previous discomfort.
Maxwell still experiences the effects of a severe leg fracture he endured last year
During the BBL overseas draft on Sunday evening, while being a part of Melbourne Stars’ selection team, Maxwell affirmed that he received a cortisone injection in his ankle.
He also mentioned uncertainty about his participation in the India series as he collaborates with the Cricket Australia strength and conditioning team to design a plan aimed at ensuring he is completely fit for the World Cup.
Cricket Australia’s medical team adopted a cautious approach by excluding him from the T20I series in South Africa, which Australia completed with a 3-0 victory on Sunday.
This decision was made considering that he was already scheduled to skip the upcoming five ODIs beginning Thursday because he is about to become a parent for the first time.
Maxwell is expected to be included in Australia’s initial 15-player World Cup squad, which will be announced on Wednesday.
However, there are several other injury concerns, including Mitchell Starc (groin), Steven Smith (wrist), Pat Cummins (wrist), and Ashton Agar (calf), as the tournament approaches.
Australia has until September 28 to finalize the squad, following the three matches against India. Maxwell will have a meeting with Cricket Australia’s medical team on Monday to chart the course for the next couple of weeks leading up to his departure for India.
Maxwell has been heavily involved in cricket this year, making his comeback from injury in February. He participated in 28 T20 matches in the IPL and the Blast, along with two first-class games for Victoria and Warwickshire.
However, during this period, he only played one 50-over match, partly due to the congested schedule. He was also withdrawn from The Hundred before the South Africa issue, as part of a rest plan in preparation for the World Cup.
Get the latest cricket news here, like us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter and Instagram for more such updates.
