Jason Gillespie backs Glenn Maxwell to excel in Test cricket

Former Australian cricketer Jason Gillespie recently spoke at length about how Glenn Maxwell can actually turn out to be a super star of the longest format of the game. Maxwell has been an excellent player in the shortest format where his attacking gameplay has earned him praises. However, on the flip side, that has seen him being bracketed as a T20 specialist. But the Victorian is certainly more than just that.

He showed his grit and class when he struck a masterly century in a Test game against India earlier this year. Jason Gillespie, in a conversation with cricket.com.au, has remarked that he always felt Maxwell is a tad underrated when it comes to Test cricket. He is currently with the Australia A team and is playing four day matches. Gillespie believes that these games are ideal for Glenn Maxwell to show what he is capable of doing.

“I’ve long been a fan of Maxwell as a long-form player. I know throughout his career he’s been seen pretty much as a one-day and T20 player and while I agree with that – he’s a wonderful player in those forms of the game – (but) I feel that he does have the game to succeed at (Test) level,” said Gillespie.

“He’s on the ‘A’ tour playing four-day cricket only and this is a good opportunity for him to get some more time in the middle paying the long form of the game in preparation for the Bangladesh tour. Here’s an opportunity for Glenn Maxwell to pay back the selectors’ faith in him. Go out there, put some performances on the board and get himself ready to go, to be in the box seat to be selected for that first Bangladesh Test,” he added further.

On the struggles for Maxwell

Team Australia is scheduled to tour Bangladesh for a two-Test series in August this year. Gillespie hopes Glenn Maxwell will make the most out of the opportunity. Trying to cite the reason for Maxwell’s mild outing in the Test arena, the former pacer noted that he has not got enough chances in the Australian domestic circuit to show his mettle in the long formats.

“His biggest issue, to be perfectly honest, has been scheduling and lack of opportunities. He just hasn’t had a lot of opportunities to play the Sheffield Shield cricket that he would’ve liked. Then the selectors will look at his numbers and go ‘Well you haven’t played a lot of first-class cricket so how could we look at you (for selection)’. That’s why I think scheduling has probably been the biggest challenge for Glenn,” conceded Gillespie.