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Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting shared his take on the idea of Glenn Maxwell returning to Test cricket. Ponting thinks that the only way Maxwell can make his return to Test cricket is if he performs well in first-class cricket. Maxwell, one of Australia’s key players in the ODI World Cup 2023 victory, has played only 7 Tests for the Baggy Greens since his debut in 2013. The last Test match he played was in 2017 against Bangladesh.
The 35-year-old averages 26.07 with 339 runs and has a Test hundred in India. Maxwell made 44 Shield appearances in his career, representing Victoria, but has played only once since October 2019. Ponting spoke on Channel 7 and gave a blunt take on Maxwell’s chances of making a return to the red-ball format. Ponting said, “No one deserves a chance unless you’ve got a truckload of first-class runs behind you. I’m a no, he doesn’t deserve it. But if he gets a chance to go back and make some first-class runs then he can force his way back in.”
Maxwell earlier spoke to SEN Radio before the Test series against Pakistan and said that he is aware of the competition going on in the format. He had said, "I’m quite understanding the circumstances of the current side. They’re playing some really good cricket, they’re World Test champions. I don’t think there’s another sub-continent tour until early 2025.”
He added, "So, I’ll keep trying to plug away and hopefully get an opportunity at that stage. There’s not a lot of spots up for grabs as far as Tests at home, but I know that when it does come to a sub-continent tour, I can be a real viable option to hopefully fill a role in that side.”
