Australia drop Glenn Maxwell for ODI series in Sri Lanka

Glenn Maxwell, Australian all-rounder, has been stunningly dropped from Australia's 15-man squad for the upcoming One-Day International (ODI) series against Sri Lanka.


Cricket Australia (CA) announced the squad on Sunday (July 31), which features two changes from the 16-man contingent that toured the West Indies in June. Moises Henriques, the all-rounder, comes into the side, along with West Australian batsman Shaun Marsh who returns after the birth of his first child. Marsh and Henriques are currently in Sri Lanka with the Test squad.

Maxwell, Australian cricket's reigning ODI Player of the Year, headlines the omissions, along with South Australian batsman Travis Head and Victorian fast bowler Scott Boland.

Rod Marsh, Australian chairman of selectors, issued a stern message to Maxwell. "We know Glenn can be a match winner for Australia but his current form doesn't warrant selection," Marsh said in a press release. "He is averaging less than 10 runs in Australia's last 10 one-day internationals, so the numbers speak for themselves.

"We've asked Glenn to go away and focus on consistent performances for Victoria and Australia A to earn his way back into the Australian side," he added.

Maxwell said he was 'disappointed' to miss the squad. "I got some really honest feedback which was good to hear but there are also things I need to work on," the 27-year-old told cricket.com.au. "It is hard; I'm going to be watching on TV and seeing Australia play in coloured clothing and I'm not going to be there, but it's one of those things where it'll probably only drive me to train harder and make sure I'm there for the next tour."

Henriques makes his return to the side having last played for Australia against England in Hobart in early 2015. "Moises comes off some great form in the Indian Premier League and we think he is well suited to these conditions," Marsh said.

The five-match ODI series between Australia and Sri Lanka starts in Colombo on August 21.

Squad: Steve Smith (c), David Warner (vc), George Bailey, Nathan Coulter-Nile, James Faulkner, Aaron Finch, Josh Hazlewood, Moises Henriques, Usman Khawaja, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Shaun Marsh, Mitchell Starc, Matthew Wade, Adam Zampa