Glenn Maxwell has been dropped for Australia’s one-day series against Sri Lanka starting next month, the all-rounder deemed too unreliable with the bat.
A 15-man squad was named on Sunday, with two changes from the victorious team that toured the West Indies for the triangular series that included South Africa last month.
NSW all-rounder Moises Henriques was called up along with West Australian batsman Shaun Marsh, who missed the Caribbean trip following the birth of his first child. Maxwell, South Australian batsman Travis Head and Victorian fast bowler Scott Boland were dumped.
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Chairman of selectors Rod Marsh was blunt when asked the reason for Maxwell’s omission. “He hasn’t made enough runs, it’s as simple as that,” said Marsh, who was in Kandy following Australia’s loss to Sri Lanka in the first Test.
“If you want to play cricket for Australia, you should be consistent. Glenn has too many games where he doesn’t contribute with the bat. He has had a lot of chances. It got to that stage – we couldn’t go on any longer.”
Maxwell has scored just 59 runs in his last seven ODI innings. In Australia’s World Cup-winning campaign in 2015 he scored 324 runs at an average of 64.80 and strike rate of 182.02; since then he’s racked up 396 runs in his last 16 innings.
Maxwell’s off-spinners have been infrequently used – in his last 12 matches he’s bowled 35 overs and taken three wickets.
The 27-year-old has a high-stakes mindset, sometimes attracting criticism for employing risky shots such as reverse sweeps early in his innings though he is a fan favourite when he gets going.
Henriques last played for Australia against England in Hobart in January last year. “Moises comes off some great form in the Indian Premier League and we think he is well suited to these conditions,” said Marsh.
Australia will play five ODIs against Sri Lanka starting in Colombo on 21 August.
Australia ODI squad: Steve Smith (capt), David Warner, Aaron Finch, Usman Khawaja, George Bailey, Shaun Marsh, Mitchell Marsh, Moises Henriques, James Faulkner, Matthew Wade, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Josh Hazlewood, Nathan Lyon, Adam Zampa.
