Former Australia skipper Ricky Ponting opined that all-rounder Glenn Maxwell has to replicate his ongoing form in the domestic circuit to earn a place back in the Test side.
After the heroic performance in Australia's World Cup-winning campaign in India, Maxwell expressed his desire to make a return to the Test squad in 2025 against Sri Lanka. However, he was not picked for the ongoing home Test series against Pakistan.
Maxwell made a huge contribution to Australia's winning journey including a memorable double ton against Afghanistan in Mumbai. He finished with 400 runs in nine games for Australia and also hit the title-winning run against India in the World Cup final.
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Maxwell, who is eyeing a return to red-ball cricket, last played in a Test match in 2017. In seven Tests, the all-rounder has scored 339 runs at an average of 26.08.
Ponting believes that scoring runs in first-class cricket will be the only way to make a return to Australia Test squad.
“No one deserves a chance unless you’ve got a truckload of first-class runs behind you. I’m a no, he doesn’t deserve it. But if he gets a chance to go back and make some first-class runs then he can force his way back in,” Ponting said on 7news.com.au.
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Maxwell had admitted that getting a place back in home Tests will be difficult but he is hopeful of getting a chance in sub-continent conditions.
“I'm quite understanding the circumstances of the current side. They're playing some really good cricket, they’re World Test champions. There's not a lot of spots up for grabs as far as Tests at home, but I know that when it does come to a sub-continent tour I can be a real viable option to hopefully fill a role in that side," Maxwell had told SEN.
Currently, Australia are facing Pakistan in the first Test of the three-match series in Perth. Pakistan were 132/2 at stumps of day 2 after David Warner's 164 guided Australia to 487 in their first innings.