Glenn Maxwell, who announced his retirement from ODIs earlier this year, will play in 50-over matches for his state side Victoria as part of his preparations for the upcoming T20I series against New Zealand, according to ESPNcricinfo. The 36-year-old has been named in Victoria’s 14-member squad for their first two Dean Jones Trophy matches against Queensland and Tasmania at Allan Border Field on Wednesday and Friday. Maxwell has played just one List A match for Victoria since March 2022, which was against New South Wales in October last year.
Matt Short, another Australian T20I squad member, returns to play his first game in any format since Major League Cricket (MLC) in July. Short missed the T20I tour of the Caribbean and the home series against
South Africa due to a side strain. Like Maxwell, he hasn’t played a 50-over fixture since the Champions Trophy.
Will Sutherland will lead Victoria in the first match before he leaves for India to join the Australia A squad for the four-day game in Lucknow. Peter Handscomb will take over as captain for the second match.
Youngster Oliver Peake, who made his List A debut for Australia A against Sri Lanka A in July but hasn’t played a 50-over game for Victoria, is unavailable as he is currently part of the Australia A tour in Lucknow. Spinner Todd Murphy is also with the Australia A side. Harry Dixon and Sam Elliott will play both games before heading to India for the Australia A one-day series in Kanpur starting on September 30.
Marnus Labuschagne Named Captain
Meanwhile, Queensland will be led by Marnus Labuschagne in their matches against Victoria on Wednesday and Western Australia on Sunday, both at Allan Border Field. Their squad is missing several players. Xavier Bartlett is on Australia A duty, while Mark Steketee (hamstring) and Callum Vidler (stress fracture) are sidelined. Usman Khawaja has opted out of both matches to prepare for the Sheffield Shield and the Ashes.
Queensland may debut former New South Wales all-rounder Hayden Kerr and former Under-19 World Cup-winning skipper Hugh Weibgen. Talents like Tom Straker and Lachlan Hearne will play both games before joining the Australia A squad in India. Hearne has been called as a replacement for the injured Aaron Hardie, who has eight List A games to his name but impressed earlier this year with a 107 off 91 balls against New South Wales.
Victoria squad: Will Sutherland, Peter Handscomb, Blake Macdonald, Callum Stow, Cam McClure, David Moody, Glenn Maxwell, Harry Dixon, Marcus Harris, Matt Short, Mitch Perry, Sam Elliott, Sam Harper, Tom Rogers.
Queensland squad: Marnus Labuschagne (capt), Jack Clayton, Benji Floros, Lachlan Hearne, Hayden Kerr, Michael Neser, Jimmy Peirson, Matthew Renshaw, Gurinder Sandhu, Tom Straker, Mitchell Swepson, Hugh Weibgen, Jack Wildermuth.
(With inputs from ANI)
