Star allrounder Glenn Maxwell has been ruled out of the Australia vs New Zealand T20 series after suffering a fractured forearm during a training mishap at Mount Maunganui. The incident deals a major setback to Australia’s preparations for the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy T20s, starting October 1 at Bay Oval.
Freak Net Session Incident Rules Maxwell Out
Cricket Australia announced that the 36-year-old will miss the three-match series after being struck on the wrist by a powerful shot from Mitchell Owen while bowling during a net session at Tauranga’s Bay Oval. The impact caused a fracture, forcing Maxwell to fly back home for specialist consultation to determine how long his recovery will take.
Recalled allrounder Matthew Short, who witnessed the moment, shared his account:
“I saw it out of the corner of my eye. We’re training under a marquee, so it’s really echo-y and loud. I saw (Owen) smoked it and then the aftermath – it hit Maxi on the wrist. It didn’t sound good. (Owen) is not the guy you want to be bowling to in T20 training, that’s for sure. Maxi’s been there and gone through that (serious injuries) a couple of times now – he was a bit disappointed but it’s just like any other injury. I’m sure he’ll get through it.”
Another Blow in Maxwell’s Injury-Prone Career
This incident marks yet another frustrating interruption for Maxwell’s career. He previously broke his leg during a freak accident at a birthday party three years ago and also suffered a concussion after falling off a golf cart during the 2023 World Cup. The allrounder had been in promising form this season, blasting a 73-ball century for Victoria in the One-Day Cup and hitting an unbeaten 62 off 36 balls in Australia’s most recent T20I against South Africa.
Josh Philippe Returns to Replace Maxwell
Wicketkeeper-batter Josh Philippe has been named as Maxwell’s replacement for the series. The 28-year-old enters the squad in excellent form after recent standout performances for Australia A, including an unbeaten 123 and a half-century during the India tour. Philippe, who last featured in December 2023, has played 12 T20Is for Australia so far.
Selection Challenges Mount for Australia
Maxwell’s absence further stretches Australia’s squad depth ahead of the T20 World Cup build-up. Josh Inglis is already sidelined with a calf injury and has been replaced by Alex Carey. Pat Cummins continues his back rehabilitation, Mitchell Starc has stepped away from T20 internationals, and Cameron Green is currently focused on red-ball cricket to prepare for the Ashes.
Returning allrounder Marcus Stoinis stressed the significance of the series:
“It’s probably the start of that. I’m sure there’s a picture in the head of the selectors of what they want to do and how they want the team lining up come that World Cup, so I think it’s going to be a nice build in for everyone. It’s always a good challenge (playing New Zealand). They’re a great team and they perform so well in the big tournaments as well, so it’s definitely something we look forward to.”
Match Schedule and Full Squads
The three-match T20 series kicks off on October 1, followed by games on October 3 and October 4, all at Bay Oval.
New Zealand Squad: Michael Bracewell (c), Mark Chapman, Devon Conway, Jacob Duffy, Zak Foulkes, Matt Henry, Bevon Jacobs, Kyle Jamieson, Daryl Mitchell, Rachin Ravindra, Tim Robinson, Ben Sears, Tim Seifert, Ish Sodhi
Australia Squad: Mitchell Marsh (c), Sean Abbott, Xavier Bartlett, Alex Carey, Tim David, Ben Dwarshuis, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Matt Kuhnemann, Mitchell Owen, Josh Philippe, Matthew Short, Marcus Stoinis, Adam Zampa
Stay tuned for all the Cricket News, Match Predictions, Fantasy Tips, and Cricket updates!