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Nic Maddinson looks set to be part of Australia’s extended Ashes squad and declared he wants to play Test cricket again after scoring a superb century against New South Wales, while Victoria team-mate James Seymour made his maiden first-class hundred on an entertaining opening day at the MCG.New South Wales lost Trent Copeland to a lower leg injury in just the fifth over the day after winning the toss and electing to bowl on a pitch with a thick matting of grass. Copeland pulled up lame as he attempted to begin his run-up and immediately left the field. He was sent for scans and did not return leaving the Blues a bowler down after they left out Harry Conway in preference of an extra batter. Coach Phil Jaques confirmed after play that Copeland had done some damage to his inner ankle but he might try and bowl in the second innings if he can reduce the swelling.Maddinson and Seymour made them pay with a 191-run partnership for the third wicket. Maddinson again stood out on a surface that had plenty of sideways movement and some steep bounce at times. Following on from his first innings 87 in difficult batting conditions at Drummoyne Oval last week, he made his 14th first-class century and his sixth Shield hundred for Victoria with an innings full of fluent stroke-play as well as some intelligent rotation of strike.He was equally proficient against pace and spin and producing a stunning hook shot for six to go with 14 fours. Since moving from New South Wales in 2018 Maddinson has made six centuries and 10 half-centuries in 39 first-class innings at an average of 58.34. He played for Australia A in each of the two summers against England Lions and India and looks set to do so again next month.”I’m playing Shield cricket because I want to play Test cricket again,” Maddinson said post play. “That’s the motivation for sure.”Maddinson was pleased with his performance, particularly in the difficult conditions. “It was about just trying to wear them down and spend enough time out there,” he said. “It was a little bit similar last week the wicket was a little bit tricky and tough to score on but if you hung in there you can kind of accumulate runs and get going that way.”Maddinson’s innings completely belied the surface given the challenges his partner had. Seymour fought exceptionally hard for his first Shield century. He was dropped on 60 off Nathan Lyon, with Jack Edwards spilling a dolly at slip, and was fortunate to survive two very close lbw shouts when twice not offering a shot. He was hit in the head twice and had a top edge just evade the gloves of Peter Nevill.But after all that he brought up three figures off 208 deliveries to warm applause from his team-mates and the small MCG crowd. He was out shortly after for 105 to Lyon who was finally rewarded for some excellent bowling. Maddinson looked set to bat out the day but finally fell in the shadows of stumps, gifting Lyon a sharp caught and bowled.Outside of the two century-makers, the rest of Victoria’s top order were well contained on a surface that gave the batters plenty of headaches. Marcus Harris was out for 1, caught at third slip off a brute of a delivery from Liam Hatcher, with the shoulder of the bat literally broken by a ball that leapt off a length.Peter Handscomb looked fluent in his 27 before being pinned lbw by a Sean Abbott delivery that nipped back sharply off the seam. Hatcher returned with the second new ball to castle Matt Short while Sam Harper holed out to point. James Pattinson ducked into a bouncer late in the day and was hit on the back of the head but was fine to continue and reached stumps alongside Will Sutherland with the game well poised.

West Indies limited-overs captain Kieron Pollard is unimpressed with his team-mates’ commitment to keeping up their fitness levels.The 34-year old is himself coming out of a hamstring injury that forced him into the sidelines for a good five-six weeks. He says he is feeling fit and fine once more, but he will be leading a team that has been shorn of at least one quality match-winner: Shimron Hetmyer was yet again dropped because he couldn’t meet the fitness standards set by Cricket West Indies.”It has been an issue that has been plaguing us for the last couple of years,” Pollard said ahead of West Indies’ first ODI against Ireland on Saturday. “One way to look at it is, the selection policy, the fitness policies are there. Guys know exactly what is needed to represent the West Indian team. Sometimes, as individuals, we take it for granted. Yes, sometimes it hinders the process of selecting the best players at the given available time.

Pollardspeak

What he did during his injury-enforced break

I have not changed much. I’ve got an opportunity to work on my fitness. I’ve got an opportunity to get a mental break from bubbles and stuff like that. I’ve been able to refresh myself and come with that different mindset because a World Cup campaign can take a lot out of you because of everything that goes on around that, but for me that’s in the past.

I haven’t looked at myself as anything. You all have looked at myself as a captain and looked at myself as a leader, as a player as well. Hopefully me doing that and being honest with myself can churn about some more performances as well which is most important.

On Desmond Haynes being appointed new lead selector

Looking forward to working with Dezzy. I’ve worked him before at Barbados Tridents. I know he has West Indies cricket in his heart and obviously he’ll come in with different ideas and it’s something we’ll need to sit down and sort of marry.

So I guess this is more about understanding what direction the cricket wants to go in terms of how he selects the teams but it’s not about impressing the new boss. It’s just about continuing to do what I am capable of doing and again for the rest of the guys to continue doing what they know and not put unnecessary pressure on themselves.

“Things happened during the pandemic – security reasons – all these played a factor. But fitness has been one issue that has affected us in terms of trying to put our best team and sometimes, it’s frustrating because you don’t have the guys fit and available to represent the team.”I will also say that it’s an individual thing, they are supposed to pride themselves on being fit, performing and doing what is necessary for the team. When these things tend to happen, as an individual, I am sure it doesn’t bode well to us too. Again, this is something I take very personally – fitness – and me being not able to participate because of injury – because that doesn’t go too well with myself. Hence I got an opportunity to detour and recover and hopefully, I can stay with the team because I pride myself on that.”Sunil Narine’s exclusion from West Indies’ T20 World Cup squad was also attributed to a lack of fitness.”For me, as an individual, the most I could do is try to make the guys understand the importance of fitness,” Pollard said. “When we are on tour, I can safely say there is no issue as to when the guys have to do their stuff in terms of what is required for the team and when they have to train in schedules. We tend to have these conversations, but I think the difficult part is when the guys leave from tour with responsibilities and with instructions and, sometimes, they don’t follow it. And then they come back on tour and they start from ground zero.”From my perspective, I can send a message and get it posted in a group. We are supposed to be professionals and we are supposed to be adults, and supposed to pride ourselves on that.”West Indies will face Ireland over a series of three ODIs and one T20I starting Saturday, and while he was looking forward to it, Pollard did note that his team was in a slightly strange situation.West Indies will face Ireland over a series of three ODIs and one T20Is starting Saturday•ICC via Getty

“The sad reality is that I don’t believe that if we win these games – this might be taken out of context but that’s not what I’m saying – if we were to win all three games, it’s something that people will expect us to do. But if we were to lose, then that brings a different perspective.” he said. “There’s a no-win situation there.”But hopefully, we can still hit the ground running and improve in the areas we need to. Small, small areas: running between the wickets, communication, rotation of strike, and continue to get better as cricketers. These are some of the things we’ve identified and want to execute. And from a bowling perspective, in the back-end of the innings, nailing our yorkers and on improving our skillsets as cricketers.”West Indies have slowly been building for the future and Pollard has one simple message for the new players that are coming in.”Belief. You are here for a reason. Obviously you would have played a lot of cricket before that. Nothing much changes. Just the name and the level and maybe the consistency of the bowlers and stuff like that,” he said. “You just need to believe in yourself, you just need to go out there with a free mind and not think about anything and carry any sort of baggage from wherever and just focus on, when you’re batting, focus on that ball, focus on what the team requires, focus on your skillset and just have a free mind.”At the end of it, all the other things become irrelevant when you’re out there in battle. Some guys will be nervous, there’s no doubt, but the faster that nervousness gets out, the easier it will be.”

Australia’s first visit to Pakistan since 1998 has received a final all-clear. The tour, which comprises three Tests, three ODIs and a T20I, has been on the cards since November 2021. Both boards have been making steady progress towards the series going ahead, and now after a final pre-trip security briefing Cricket Australia has given its full endorsement.”I would like to thank the PCB and both the Pakistan and Australian Governments for ensuring the tour will proceed for the first time in 24 years,” CA chief executive Nick Hockley said. “This is a historic occasion and important for the global growth and health of the game.Schedule of Australia’s tour of Pakistan 2022•ESPNcricinfo Ltd

“I would also like to thank the Australian Cricketers’ Association and the players, coaches, support teams, staff and security experts for their collaboration in the planning for the tour. We are looking forward to an exciting series between two world-class teams.”On Thursday, Test captain Pat Cummins confirmed most players were comfortable with the tour going ahead, while understanding and accepting a few may not make the trip.”I think we’ll get close to a full-strength squad,” Cummins said. “There is still a little bit of work to do. We have received a lot of information and it has been great. All the pre-tour security and biosecurity work has been done and it’s been fantastic.”Australia are expected to name their squad early next week. It will be their first overseas Test series since the 2019 Ashes. With matches going on until April 5, some of their players may not be available for the first few days of the IPL due to begin on March 27.

Nigar Sultana, the Bangladesh captain, has criticised the conditions in Dunedin, where her team lost their second game of the Women’s World Cup 2022 – a rain-hit fixture to New Zealand. She called the damp outfield unplayable and said she had been worried about the “safety” of her players.A rain delay of over four hours cut the match down to 27 overs a side, and the drizzle returned in the second innings, when Bangladesh were fielding in defence of 140.”Firstly, I would like to say [that] this is not good, playable condition, because there was a lot of rain over there, but still we played over there,” she said at the post-match press conference. “Sometimes the bowlers couldn’t grip the ball, and the boundary fielders couldn’t watch the ball very well. And I was a bit worried about the safety of my fielders, because we have five more matches to go. So it was very difficult for us to play in this kind of condition.”Related

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Heavy weather began to roll in as New Zealand’s chase continued. After 13 overs, they were 73 for 1, when a drinks break was due. Bangladesh were on their way to the dugout when the umpires sent the refreshments back and asked for play to continue. New Zealand only took another seven overs to score the remaining 68 runs.Though Bangladesh accepted the on-field instructions to play on, Sultana spoke to the umpires again after 15 overs, with light rain falling, but play again continued. Afterwards, she indicated they had wanted play to be paused but could not convince the officials.”When we were on the ground, we asked the umpires whether we would be continuing the game in these conditions, and they kept saying that we should continue. On the field, there was nothing more I could do,” she said. “But we are concerned, so off the field, we can do what we can, speak to whoever we can, and see how we can minimise the risk. We will let the match referee know that the conditions were such that… what should be done to make it better the next time.”With five matches remaining for them in the tournament, Sultana was concerned that if any of her players suffered an injury, it would leave Bangladesh short on resources and unable to bolster them.”See, we bring only a few players to World Cups. So it becomes difficult for us if someone suddenly picks up an injury,” she said. “We are here from Bangladesh, which is far away, so to get a new player from home, have her go through ten days of quarantine, and get her on the field… the tournament will be over by then.”The safety and security of the players is of utmost importance, because we need to think of the future too. We have more fixtures after the World Cup, where we need these players.”She has asked officials to consider the players’ well-being going forward, especially if the wet weather continued. “We can play the remaining matches only if my players are safe. The safety of the people, who I am going to fight with, is the most important thing for me,” she said.Sultana dismissed any suggestion that she was making excuses for Bangladesh’s performance and pointed to the comparatively drier conditions New Zealand bowled in.”If you think this is an excuse, then no. When it was the first innings, there was rain then too, but it was not [the same],” she said. “During the first innings, the rain was not that heavy, the conditions were much better, at least when we batted. When we bowled and fielded, the rain was much heavier.”Bangladesh have lost both their matches so far, after a 32-run defeat to South Africa on Saturday. They have a week to strategise for their next fixture, against Pakistan in Hamilton.

Scotland will host New Zealand in July 2022 for two T20Is and a one-off ODI after New Zealand finish their tour of Ireland on July 22 in Belfast. The three matches in Scotland will be played at the Grange in Edinburgh, on July 27, 29 and 31.Scotland and New Zealand last faced each other in the Super 12s stage of the T20 World Cup last year when Scotland scared their opponents by falling just 16 runs short while chasing 173.”We are excited to welcome the BLACKCAPS to our shores this summer,” Scotland head coach Shane Burger said. “We want to keep challenging ourselves versus ICC Full Members and New Zealand are up there as one of the best.”Having reached both of the most recent T20 and 50 over ICC world cup finals, they have proven to be the most consistent team across all formats of the game in recent years.”We have 12 international ODIs to be played prior to the New Zealand series and so the squad are training well and looking forward to a busy 2022.”New Zealand head coach Gary Stead said touring Scotland would be a “great occasion” for his team.”Over the past decade we’ve seen Scotland improve as a cricketing nation and develop into a force in international cricket,” Stead said. “Having played there personally myself at Brechin Cricket Club, I know how passionate the people are about the game and I have no doubt they will be eagerly looking forward to this tour.”Playing against associate teams as a major nation is a really important part of helping them grow and that growth can only benefit the world game long term.”Cricket Scotland is likely to announce further information on the tickets and crowd in mid-April.New Zealand will fly to the UK in May-end for the three Tests against England in June, followed by the three ODIs and as many T20Is starting July 10, before they head to Scotland.

Pakistan international Shan Masood became the first player in Derbyshire history to post back-to-back double centuries as Leicestershire’s bowlers were put to the sword on day two of the LV= Insurance County Championship match at the Uptonsteel County Ground.The 32-year-old opener was out for 219, having hit 24 fours and a six as Derbyshire racked up 401 runs in the day to lead by 224 with six first-innings wickets still in hand. Wayne Madsen made 94 and Mattie McKiernan is 63 not out.Masood’s magnificent innings followed his 239 in last week’s drawn match against Sussex, giving him an aggregate of 611 runs from his first four innings for Derbyshire, another county record.Left-arm spinner Callum Parkinson finally claimed his wicket this time, bowling him with a ball that turned sharply from outside the left-hander’s off stump. Masood turned for the pavilion but could leave the field only after every Leicestershire player, led by Parkinson, had offered a handshake of congratulation on a superb exhibition of high-class batting.It capped a day that began with Leicestershire’s bowlers hoping for a productive morning with a relatively new ball. Instead, after resuming on 36 for 1, Derbyshire added 111 runs before lunch and lost only one wicket in doing so.Brooke Guest was the sole casualty, given out leg before to Will Davis for 23. It might have been two but Madsen, having hit the first two balls of Wiaan Mulder’s third over of the morning to the fence, was dropped on the legside by wicketkeeper Harry Swindells on 14 in the same over.Masood by that point was looking in ominously good touch and as he completed his first fifty just before Madsen’s let-off there was already a sense he had his eye on another big score. Parkinson’s introduction helped stem the flow of runs in the last 40 minutes of the opening session but it was a different story after lunch when the Leicestershire bowlers conceded runs at more than four an over.Madsen passed fifty and Masood his hundred from consecutive balls off Davis, the latter’s including 12 fours. There was seldom any hint of a breakthrough until Madsen, within sight of what would have been a sixth century against Leicestershire and a third on this ground, decided to chance a single to mid-off off Beuran Hendricks with the odds clearly against him and paid the price, Ed Barnes beating the 38-year-old’s despairing dive with a direct hit.Understandably, Madsen looked mortified, yet his partnership with Masood had added 221 for the third wicket and put Derbyshire firmly in control. He and Masood shared a partnership of 292 against Sussex last week.When tea arrived at 295 for 3, their lead was 82. Now Leicestershire were pinning their hopes on the second new ball, which would be available an over into the final session.But that proved fruitless too as Masood continued to prosper. Most of his boundaries had come from sweetly timed drives or clips off his legs but he showed an aggressive side when he drove Davis for four and pulled him for six in the same over.McKiernan, though dropped on 39 off Mulder, was striking the ball confidently at the other end and he and Masood added 129 at almost five an over, passing his previous highest score of 52.Derbyshire supporters are already likening Masood’s impact to that of the Australian Simon Katich, who scored 433 runs in his first four innings for the county in 2007, and Martin Guptill, the New Zealand batter, who was the key figure the last time Derbyshire won promotion from Division Two of the County Championship in 2012.Although he is not alone in making consecutive double hundreds, no player in the history of cricket has made three in a row.

Harmanpreet Kaur’s Supernovas made a winning start to the Women’s T20 Challenge in Pune on Monday. They successfully defended 163, a prospect that looked unlikely when Smriti Mandhana raced off the blocks in Trailblazers’ chase. From 63 for 1, they collapsed to 73 for 7 in the 13th over, by which time the game was well and truly over. Supernovas eventually won by 49 runs. Pooja Vastrakar, the seam bowling allrounder, picked four wickets while England left-arm spinner Sophie Ecclestone and Australia legspinner Alana King picked two apiece.1, 0, 2, 0, 0Trailblazers’ Nos. 4 to 8 contributed only three runs in total, as they slumped after Mandhana’s turbocharged 34. After Vastrakar got both openers, she got her third when Sophia Dunkley slapped one to mid-off where a diving Priya Punia completed her second superb catch of thre evening. That it came three balls after Mandhana was caught by Punia at mid-on rattled the Trailblazers. With big inroads made, Ecclestone and King joined the fun to close out the game.How the collapse unfoldedAfter King dismissed an advancing Sharmin Akhter, who played all around a full delivery, Ecclestone got onto the scoreboard off consecutive deliveries. First, Richa Ghosh slapped a long hop to point. Off the next delivery, Arundhati Reddy was stumped in freakish fashion when she tapped at the ball, which ricocheted off her front boot and back to an alert Taniya Bhatia behind the stumps as she whipped the bails off.Vastrakar got her fourth when Salma Khatun spooned a catch to cover. The final nail was hammered in when Meghna Singh broke Rodrigues’ resistance when Harleen Deol took a brilliant catch while diving forward at deep point. Her 24, however, merely delayed the inevitable.Super startWith the bat, every over of Supernovas’ powerplay featured at least one boundary, as Deandra Dottin and Punia got them off to a flier. The final ball of the first over was hit for six, thus signalling an early intent to go for the big hits. Dottin was on a run-a-ball seven at one stage, before launching Renuka Singh for three boundaries in the third over.That turned out to be the catalyst, as Punia decided to take the attack to Rajashwari Gayakwad in the next over. The opener hit back-to-back boundaries, the first of which was a crisp cover drive while the second was a clever piece of dab between point and short third man. Dottin crashed a four and a six off Arundhati Reddy in the final over the powerplay, before being run out by a direct hit from Akhter at square leg, even as Supernovas finished the powerplay 58 for 1.Trailblazers hit back, but fall shortSupernovas kept losing their way after the good start, but Harmanpreet Kaur and Vastrakar had added a rapid 27 for the sixth wicket to give them some impetus, but a late collapse meant they finished with at least 20 fewer than they looked like getting.Harmanpreet’s 29-ball 37 ended in a run out when she and Ecclestone ended up at the bowler’s end. The Supernovas’ captain clearly made her frustration evident, indicating that Ecclestone should have rather risked her wicket by getting to the wicketkeeper’s end.All said, Trailblazers surrendered from a position of strength and have one more game to make amends.

Moeen Ali has been awarded an OBE for services to cricket in the Queen’s Birthday Honours, and has conceded that “the door is open” to a possible return to Test cricket under Brendon McCullum’s new England regime.Moeen, 34, retired from Tests last summer, after claiming 195 wickets in 64 matches, in addition to 2914 runs at 28.29, with five centuries. He remains an integral member of the white-ball set-up, having been a member of the victorious 2019 World Cup squad, and was England’s stand-in captain in their most recent series in the Caribbean.However, speaking to The Guardian and PA Media, Moeen acknowledged that his honour is a reflection of his role-model status among the British Asian community that remains under-represented in the national team, having himself risen from community cricket in Sparkhill Park in Birmingham to more than 200 appearances for his country across formats.”It is obviously an honour and the more you think about it, the more you realise how nice it is and how rewarding it is,” Moeen said. “More than anything, I know it makes my parents happy and that’s the most important thing – one of the main reasons for accepting. It’s amazing and my family are really proud and happy.”I think it’s more about the journey I’ve been on, my background, my upbringing and all that,” he added. “Maybe the way I played a little bit and the way I go about my cricket, maybe that’s what people have liked or whatever.”From the word go, as soon as I played for England, people labelled me as being a potential role model. It is a big responsibility because you don’t want to let people down. But then as time has gone on, you kind of accept it and deal with it a lot better. You kind of do inspire a lot of people, especially from the inner city.”Moeen’s career owes a huge amount to the drive of his father Munir, who also helped to mould his cousin Kabir Ali into an England cricketer, and the love and support of his mother, Maqsood. And he said he was happy to be a “medal on their chest”.”I know if it wasn’t for them, that there’s no way any of us would have made it in any sort of cricketing capacity or had the strength to carry on at times. They made a huge effort and sacrificed their own lives in certain ways for us to make it.”Although for the moment Moeen remains an ex-Test cricketer, he admitted he was intrigued by the appointment of McCullum as England’s new head coach, in particular his stated determination to free up the players to perform with the same sense of liberation that many of them have frequently shown in white-ball cricket – including, in Moeen’s case, the IPL.”Baz [McCullum] messaged me asking if I was ‘in’,” he said. “I have played with him in the Indian Premier League and really enjoyed the way he works. We spoke and he mentioned potentially, in the future, if there is a tour – or whenever, really – would I be available? I said ‘call me at the time’. We’ll see.”The door is open. But I don’t want to disrespect [current England spinner] Jack Leach. It’s a difficult job – especially in England – and I know that I back him, I’m right behind him. I don’t want to put any pressure there, he’s a fantastic bowler.”I saw the suggestion of me not enjoying Joe Root’s captaincy but I did, he was always good to me. He’s a friend of mine and a great guy. When I retired I was finding it hard to get going. I had a few niggles, I was tired, I wasn’t enjoying it as much as I should.”But playing for England is amazing, especially at home. And even though it’s sad Chris Silverwood went as head coach and Root stepped down as captain, it’s always exciting when there is a new chapter. Brendon is a straight, honest guy, we’ve had a chat and maybe in the future, potential tours or whatever, who knows?”

Shahid Afridi, Daren Sammy, Javed Miandad, and Shoaib Malik have all been roped in as mentors for the inaugural edition of the Pakistan Junior League (PJL), scheduled to be held at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore from October 1 to 15.The PJL is the brainchild of PCB chairman Ramiz Raja, who is looking to exploit the commercial market interest in spending on cricket. The six franchises will be sold through a bidding process, and the team names will be based on major hubs in the country, albeit different from ones already established in the Pakistan Super League (PSL).Related

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In April, the PCB had invited corporate entities to be a part of the tournament, with as many as 24 companies coming forward with a desire to be involved in different capacities. ESPNcricinfo understands that at least three of the six existing PSL franchises are interested in buying teams in the PJL. The six franchises are yet to be sold, but according to the PCB, work is in progress behind the scenes.The PCB is aiming to pick players in the 15-19 age group through a draft system, involving both locals as well as overseas players. While these age-group players have never been involved in a league of such a big scale, the PCB has enforced PSL teams to pick up two budding cricketers in their squad, including one in the playing XI.Cricket at the junior level in Pakistan has mostly been structured, featuring different levels between the Under-15 and Under-19 groups. Historically, the young cricketers have been nurtured through longer-format games, playing two-or-three-day matches alongside one-dayers.To make the league more commercially viable and generate interest, the PCB has crafted the model of bringing in legends of the game as mentors and coaches. In addition to their roles as team mentors, the PCB said that the four household names will also serve as event ambassadors, using their knowledge and influence to promote and publicise the league.Afridi, the former Pakistan captain, is one of the most popular figures in the country despite retiring from international cricket in 2018. He, however, has continued to play and invest in franchise cricket.”I am a big advocate of investing in the future,” Afridi said. “If T20 cricket is a vehicle to promote and develop cricket, and identify young talent, then we need to create opportunities and come up with novel ideas to unearth hidden talent, and ensure their skills and performances are duly noticed and subsequently rewarded.”Working as mentor of a side comprising teenagers will be a new experience for me. I am thoroughly excited and looking forward to playing my part in helping these energetic and skillful cricketers achieve the zenith of glory. I have no doubts with the abundance of talent we have, this tournament will be able to identify, at least, half a dozen cricketers who can be nurtured and developed into star cricketers, who can then go on to shoulder the expectations and hopes of millions of cricket fans and followers.”Sammy, the former West Indies captain, has been one of the key figures of the PSL, and is among the most popular names in Pakistan for his contribution in reviving international cricket in the country. He has been one of the more recognisable overseas faces and was awarded the and in recognition of his contribution to cricket in the country.”I am pleased to have been awarded with the opportunity to be involved in the inaugural Pakistan Junior League. I am fully behind the concept and believe it will assist in identifying and fast-tracking outstanding cricketers,” he said.”I have been part of the Pakistan cricket system since 2016 and am a witness to some great local talent that has blown me away. I now look forward to working more closely with the teenagers, pass on my knowledge to them and help them fulfil their dreams of becoming international cricketers.”

Until now on their tours of Pakistan and Sri Lanka, Australia have not felt the need to go out of the box with their selections, although both trips have included plenty of talk of the potential to do so. The second Test in Galle may see that change, however, with Glenn Maxwell a chance to replace Mitchell Starc at No. 8.Maxwell was not an original member of the Test squad but was called up when Travis Head became an injury doubt ahead of the opening match. Now, he would be preferred ahead of a frontline spinner, Jon Holland, should a change be made with captain Pat Cummins reckoning the runs he could provide in a potential low-scoring match could be just as important.It would mean Cummins being the lone frontline quick although Cameron Green, who wasn’t needed with the ball in the first Test, provides another pace-bowling option that, if not already, could soon be considered a frontliner.Related

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“We’ve got Greeny there as a high-class quick bowler, Head, Marnus [Labuschagne], so think it makes it a bit easier to know we’ve got plenty of bowling if needed,” Cummins said. “Even Nathan Lyon can lock him in from one end for most of the day. If the wicket plays a lot of tricks, think the batting is the area you have to try and find those extra 20-30 runs somewhere.”Think he [Maxwell] was just about the pick of the bowlers in the one-day series, he was excellent, so the all-round package he brings, but especially the bowling, feel like easily could get 15-20 overs out of him.”Heading into the tour, Ashton Agar, who had his trip ended with a side strain, was being considered as a third spinner and it is a balance of side Australia have used in the past, albeit with Maxwell effectively giving Australia eight batters there is an extra twist.Pat Cummins on Glenn Maxwell’s prospective batting contribution: “Might not be grinding out a hundred, but a quickfire 30 or 40 could be invaluable”•AFP

Maxwell has previously batted at No. 8 and had a bowling role once in Test cricket, on debut against India in Hyderabad in 2012-13, but he was the second spinner on that occasion alongside Xavier Doherty. The most recent of his seven Tests, against Bangladesh in Chattogram nearly five years ago, saw him as one of four spinners alongside Agar, Lyon and Steve O’Keefe but there he batted No. 5If Maxwell does play it would be his first first-class match since 2019 but, echoing comments Maxwell himself has made about domestic cricket in Australia being so far removed from these conditions, Cummins did not see that being an issue.”It’s pretty different first-class cricket here to what you might experience in the Sheffield Shield,” he said. “It’s a different pace, the wickets are so different, so the role we’d see him in his bit of bowling, bit of extra batting at No. 8 and taking the game on. Might not be grinding out a hundred, but a quickfire 30 or 40 could be invaluable.”The final decision on the XI will be made close to the toss on Friday morning with Cummins wanting to have another couple of looks at the pitch. “Probably feels a bit harder than it did last week, bit of grass on there but they are mowing it now,” he said.