‘His end of the bargain: Aussie coach’s blunt reality…
- Glenn Maxwell was read the riot act by coach Andrew McDonald
- Follows a number of alcohol-related incidents throughout his career
- Maxwell, 35, passed out in an Adelaide pub on January 19
Australian cricket coach Andrew McDonald wants Glenn Maxwell to ‘stick to the bargain’ when it comes to off-field standards after a ‘less than ideal’ incident in Adelaide that led to the ‘Big Show’ being taken to hospital.
Maxwell, 35, is back in training after passing out in a pub while watching former fast bowler Brett Lee’s tape ‘Six and Out’ on January 19.
Other players at the performance were unable to wake him as the incident raised questions about Maxwell’s relationship with alcohol.
The all-rounder will be included in Australia’s T20 squad for the upcoming three-match series against the West Indies and will not be sanctioned by Cricket Australia, but Maxwell has been spoken to by McDonald.
The national coach made it crystal clear that an ’embarrassed’ Maxwell, left out of the ODI series against the West Indies to recover from a tough schedule, had made a mistake and had to learn from it.
Andrew McDonald (pictured) wants Glenn Maxwell to ‘stick to the bargain’ when it comes to off-field standards after a ‘less than ideal’ recent incident in Adelaide
Maxwell, 35, is a key member of Australia’s ODI and T20 squads but has been involved in a number of off-field incidents in recent years that have attracted headlines
McDonald added that Maxwell would remain an integral part of the national white-ball teams provided he keeps his nose clean.
“I spoke with Glenn and had a good conversation with him about the incident,” McDonald said Wednesday.
‘As I’ve said before, looking after himself has to be a consideration moving forward and we’re giving him the opportunity to rest and recuperate during that period… I suppose the lessons for him in that would be: uphold his end of the bargain and take care of himself.
“We want to see Glenn Maxwell playing cricket for Australia (at least) in the next three to four years.
“He is a key player in our white-ball format and when he is there we are a much better team. “(So) we’re going to achieve our goal… and Glenn’s going to have to fulfill his part of that bargain.
“Because of all the information he got, he had a few drinks and the night ended up the way it was, and that’s not ideal from his perspective and from our perspective.
“It’s an honest mistake.”
Maxwell (pictured with his wife Vini Raman) is said to be ashamed and knows he must follow the rules if he wants to continue playing international cricket for Australia
McDonald said the biggest disappointment was that Maxwell did not use the rest period he was given after the Big Bash in the expected manner as he continued to deal with the ongoing problems from his seriously broken leg in 2022.
“It’s a discussion we’ve had over the last few weeks about where he is physically following the serious injury he suffered 12 months ago,” McDonald told SEN.
‘That injury has not allowed him to do the things he wanted to do in recent times and recovery is one of the biggest problems he faces during matches.
‘He just started flagging in the back end of the Big Bash and for those who know ODI cricket well, it is probably one of the most demanding formats for any player with the speed they have to move around the field and with the bat and Maxwell is also a bowler.
“He needs to see what he does at his end and if it’s the right thing, but thankfully there’s no harm involved and he’s doing well now.”