Glenn Maxwell admits his poor batting form led to axing from Australian ODI squad

Australia’s Glenn Maxwell admitted that he has no one but himself to blame after being dropped from the ODI side for the upcoming series against Sri Lanka but added that he is determined to win his place back in the side with some consistent performances in first-class cricket, which according to the 27-year-old has been his most rewarding format.

With the Australian side currently in Sri Lanka, Maxwell had high hopes of adding to his three Test caps by featuring in the spin-friendly conditions in the island nation as a batting all-rounder. However, the Australian selectors decided to overlook him for the Test series with Nathan Lyon and Steve o’ Keefe being picked as the two specialist spinners.

Even after O’ Keefe’s unfortunate injury meant that the left-arm spinner had to return to Australia, the selectors opted to draft in uncapped Jon Holland and to make matters worse for Maxwell, he was informed of the decision to drop him from the ODI squad as well with chief selector Rod Marsh launching a scathing attack on the enigmatic cricketer stating that he had been given way too chances to prove himself.

"If you look at my last 10 one-dayers, I didn't score enough runs. As they've always said, if you're in that top six, you're a batting allrounder first. I probably didn't make as many runs as I would have liked,” Maxwell said, admitting that he didn’t score enough runs to warrant a regular place in the playing eleven for Australia.

“It would have been nice to have been in Sri Lanka with the spinning conditions and get a bit more of a chance with the ball, but I had to make more runs when I had the opportunity. I fully take responsibility for that."

Maxwell is currently playing for Australia A in a two-match series against South Africa A and though he failed to make register huge runs, scoring 0 and 38 in his two innings, Maxwell is certain that a continuous run in the first-class format will help him turn his fortunes around.

"I think I've taken it pretty well," Maxwell told reporters in Townsville. "Having this opportunity at the same time probably softens the blow a little bit. It gives you an opportunity to prove them wrong or show them that you really want to be back in there.

“It gives you an opportunity to play games of cricket in July and August, which other people don't have. So it is a big silver lining having these games. I've been in really good form with that over the last few years," Maxwell said of first-class cricket.

"It has been a really consistent format for me, statistically my best format, which people don't seem to quite grasp very well."