A decision by Cricket Australia to take a cautious approach to Glenn Maxwell’s recovery from a badly broken leg has prevented Victorian selectors from picking him for this week’s Sheffield Shield clash at the MCG.
Maxwell missed the entire Big Bash, with his chances of pushing for inclusion in Australia’s Test tour of India also thwarted when he shattered his left fibula in an accident at a friend’s birthday party last November.
He lost 5kg in the aftermath of surgery and only recently returned to training with the Vics, batting in the nets last week having expressed a desire to play some red-ball cricket while he eyes off an international return for Australia in a one-day series in India in March.
But an immediate leap from no cricket straight in to a four-day game was deemed too big a jump for the 34-year-old, who is expected to play club cricket before being available for Victoria. A one-day game on February 14 could be a more likely return match.