Aaron Finch reveals why Glenn Maxwell wasn't picked for India ODI series

The Australian cricket team proceeded to squander the advantage that they had achieved by shellacking India by ten wickets in the first ODI at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. And, one of the many reasons for the reversal was the underwhelming returns and the lack of firepower from their middle-order.

Australia had left out star all-rounders Marcus Stoinis and the ‘Big Show’ Glenn Maxwell from the ODI set-up following the duo’s disastrous run in the 2019 World Cup. But, Maxwell, in particular, has been in great form in the ongoing Big Bash League for the Melbourne Stars where he has chipped-in with both bat and ball.

And, now following the underwhelming returns of Ashton Turner in the recently concluded ODI series against India, the calls for Maxi’s inclusion for the ODI series against South Africa in February have grown louder. However, captain Aaron Finch feels that Maxwell does not have a place in the Australian top 7 at the moment.

“Outside the top seven at the moment,” Finch said when asked about Maxwell after Australia’s 1-2 series defeat to Virat Kohli’s India in Bengaluru on Sunday. Finch added, “It’s about form, picking players for the right role. I think it’s just going to come down to whichever way you want to match up, specific roles for specific players.”

Virat Kohli surprised at the exclusion of Glenn Maxwell from the ODI set-up

Indian captain Virat Kohli was himself very surprised when he found out that Maxwell wasn’t a part of the Australian touring party for the three ODIs. Kohli reminisced about the hundred that Maxwell scored in the T20I series against India last year, and also reckoned that his bowling could have proved handy on the surfaces where the ODI series was played.

“Honestly I did not look at the (squad) and I asked Aaron that have you got only 14… and asked ‘Is Maxwell here?’ and they said he is playing the BBL,” said Kohli. “I was a bit surprised that he wasn’t here, especially the way he performed last time in the T20 series. He got a hundred in the last game and they won the series. So surprised not to see him because he brings the spinning option as well.” Kohli said as quoted by New Indian Express.

Australia’s next ODI assignment will be in South Africa next month and it will be interesting to see if the ‘Big Show’ indeed makes it to the 50-over set-up.