Australian all-rounder Glenn Maxwell announced a combined ODI XI featuring players from India, Australia and England. But the 37-year-old cruelly left England legends off his list.
The India vs Australia series is scheduled to begin this coming Sunday, with both teams playing against each other in a three-match ODI series, followed by a five-match T20I series. Experienced all-rounder Glenn Maxwell will miss the first two T20Is but is likely to return for the third T20I.
Glenn Maxwell was withdrawn after sustaining a wrist injury while bowling inside the nets. Although his return date is still uncertain, the all-rounder will be hoping to take part in the series against the Indian national cricket team.
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David Warner was absent as Glenn Maxwell selected the Indian duo as the team’s opening pair.
Veteran Australian all-rounder Glenn Maxwell recently appeared in an exclusive interview on Fox Cricket where he was asked to pick a combined eleven made up of players from Australia, India and England. This was done ahead of the India vs Australia series scheduled to begin on October 19.
For the opening slot, Maxwell was given the names of openers from all three countries, including Rohit Sharma, David Warner, Sachin Tendulkar, Jonny Bairstow and Mark Waugh.
Instead of considering former teammate David Warner as an opener, he chose Indian legends Sachin Tendulkar and Rohit Sharma as the team’s openers. After that, he also designated a middle-order hitter.
Shane Watson was chosen as an all-rounder, putting aside some of the game’s greatest players
For the list of middle-order batsmen, they were asked to choose from a wide range of players, made up of legends from each country. Virat Kohli was the only Indian batsman named, with Maxwell naming his former RCB teammate as the number three batsman.
Several mid-table players were also named, including Eoin Morgan, Joe Root, Ricky Ponting, Michael Clarke and Michael Bevan. Maxwell named two Australian greats in the remaining two spots in his total eleven, but Joe Root was once again ruled out.
Maxwell’s most surprising appointment came in the form of former Australia teammate Shane Watson. He preferred Watson as an all-rounder, leaving aside the likes of Yuvraj Singh, Andrew Symonds, Steve Waugh, Andrew Flintoff, Ben Stokes and Kapil Dev. Maxi also named MS Dhoni as the team’s wicketkeeper instead of Australian great Adam Gilchrist.
There are no England players in Glenn Maxwell’s overall eleven.
He also removed Australian legend and world’s best spinner Shane Warne from the squad and replaced him with India’s great spinner Anil Kumble. The three pacers consisted of the legendary Australian duo of Brett Lee and Glenn McGrath.
Jasprit Bumrah was selected in the overall eleven but once again ignored England legend James Anderson. Manager Maxwell rounded out his best 11, but did not select any English players, leaving only Indian and Australian players in his squad.
Also read: Australian players mock Indian team over recent skirmish with Pakistan