Former Australian Test representative Simon O’Donnell has sent a message to the out of favour Glenn Maxwell, telling the Victorian to change his ways to accommodate the national team’s demands.
Maxwell was shockingly dropped from the One Day International squad yesterday, with skipper Steve Smith saying, “I think he could train a little smarter.”
It comes after the 29-year-old also missed out on selection for the Ashes Test team, and O’Donnell believes the clear discomfort between Maxwell, and the game’s key stakeholders, is reaching career-defining levels.
“Glenn Maxwell is at a crossroad,” he told Summer Breakfast.
“There has always seemed to be an underlining current of discontent...as soon as we can get him out, we will. I think now, that has been aired.
“There are issues outside of his cricketing ability that are keeping him out of Australian XIs in all forms.
“The one thing you don’t want to regret, just for personality reasons, is that I could have played more international cricket.
“Glenn Maxwell could travel around the world and earn millions playing T20, but I still don’t think he would be satisfied with where his career is at.
“At the end of the day, you want to think I gave all forms of cricket the best I possibly could and I got the best out of myself.
“A full bank account and regrets about what you did in your career, you don’t want to live that way.
“Whatever the issues he thinks he may or may not have, if they’re asking you to pull your head in, pull it in.
“If they’re asking you to change some ways of playing, do it.
“The worse thing you can do is get to 40 years of age, you’re retired and say, I showed them, I drive a hot car, have a big house, but you were an unfulfilled talent.
“That’s something he doesn’t want to live with.”
Maxwell is the leading run scorer in the Sheffield Shield this season at 573 runs, with an average of 73.75.
He scored 278 against New South Wales earlier in the campaign, but issues surrounding his personality and mentality have taken precedence over performances.
Did you miss Simon O’Donnell’s chat with Brett Phillips and Sam Groth on Summer Breakfast? Take a listen in the player below!