Australian cricketer Glenn Maxwell is battling persistent leg injury
Australian all-rounder Glenn Maxwell is still grappling with the aftermath of a severe leg injury he sustained in 2022. Maxwell has sustained the injury during his friend's birthday celebrations. The injury affected his ability to play cricket comfortably. Despite this setback, Maxwell remains committed to his recovery and is undergoing intensive rehabilitation and specialized training every day. Here's more.
Maxwell's injury details and impact on his cricket career
Maxwell's injuries, including a cracked fibula, chipped tibia, and torn ankle ligaments in his left leg, occurred shortly after Australia's ICC T20 World Cup campaign ending in the league stage. Due to these injuries, he missed the 2023 Border-Gavaskar Trophy series versus India. However, he managed to secure a place in the triumphant ODI World Cup squad despite his physical challenges, in which he played a brilliant knock of 201* off 128 balls with 10 sixes against Afghanistan.
Maxwell's ongoing struggle and commitment to recovery
Maxwell has openly discussed his ongoing struggle with the injury, stating, "It's still my leg. It's what is giving me the most grief since breaking it, so it's still a work in progress." He stressed the importance of daily effort to keep his leg pain-free for a full day of cricket. His rehabilitation involves extensive gym work and strengthening different body parts to prevent minor injuries that could delay his recovery.
Maxwell's Test cricket prospects and future plans
Since late 2019, Maxwell has played just two First-Class matches and hasn't appeared for Australia in a Test since the 2017 Bangladesh tour. Despite his limited participation in these formats due to his injury, he remains hopeful about his future in Test cricket. He revealed that Australian selectors have assured him of an "outside the box" lineup for the upcoming Test series against Sri Lanka.
Maxwell's uncertainty about Sheffield Shield form consideration
When Maxwell was questioned whether his Sheffield Shield performance would impact his selection for the series versus Sri Lanka. He stated, "It would be great if I could get my body into a position where I can play over (in Sri Lanka). But as far as Shield cricket, I'm not sure how much they'll take that into consideration." Despite these doubts, he remains determined to prove his fitness and readiness for Test cricket in the future.
All-rounder's red-ball cricket statistics
The 35-year-old has featured in only seven Tests for Australia. He has scored 334 runs, at an average of 26.07, with a highest score of 104, and owns a century to his name. The all-rounder has not played a single match at home. Meanwhile, he has played six away matches scoring 298 runs at an average of 27.09. He has also bowled in all seven of his appearances picking up a modest eight wickets at an average of 42.62.
