Australian all-rounder Glenn Maxwell praised the arrival of former India spinner R Ashwin as a major boost for the competition and expressed excitement about the next Big Bash League season, where he will captain the Melbourne Stars.
Ashwin, who announced his IPL retirement in August, has agreed to play the entire season with the Sydney Thunder, becoming the first Indian player with a BBL cap.
“That’s really exciting. It’s great for the competition. I think anytime you can get world-class superstars who have got the career that he has as a part of the BBL is a massive bonus for us. He’s been extremely successful,” at the Melbourne kit introduction for the KFC BBL, Maxwell informed reporters.
“He’s got a hell of a lot of wisdom in the game. I think he’s going to give back a lot to the players in the BBL. I don’t think it’s just the Sydney Thunder, I think the guys that are playing against him will probably ask him a lot of questions, and he’s certainly going to bring in a lot of fans as well.”
After undergoing surgery to repair his fractured right wrist, Maxwell is optimistic that he would be fully recovered in time for the second part of the forthcoming T20 International series against India.
During a net session prior to the T201 series against New Zealand in Mount Maunganui, the 36-year-old was hit on the wrist by a shot from teammate Mitchell Owen.
“I think having the surgery last week sort of gives me a little bit more hope of playing some part in that India series, if I can get myself right,” Maxwell, who has not been named for the first two T20Is on October 29 and 31, said.
In order to expedite his recuperation and be ready for the next three games of the India series, which are set for Hobart (November 2), Gold Coast (November 6), and Brisbane (November 8), Maxwell decided to get the surgery.
“The only reason I had the surgery was the options they gave me were miss that series completely and no surgery, or have surgery and it gives me a slim chance to hopefully play a part.
“And if not, I’ll be ready earlier for the BBL, and I think it leaves me in good stead to get the rest of my body right,” he said.
According to Maxwell, he had the cast taken off on Wednesday and will now wear a plastic splint that has been formed to preserve it for a while. However, he has been given the all-clear to resume using his wrist.
“I only met with a hand therapist yesterday. He only gave me some really basic movements, things that look really boring, but I suppose they’re going to strengthen the wrist,” Maxwell said.
Depending on how it feels when he bats, Maxwell stated that pain management will be the primary issue.
“I was probably just a bit unlucky with the position that it hit me on the arm,” Maxwell said.
“When it hit me, I thought I was lucky that it hit just bone and it wasn’t too much flesh, and it was going to be right. But, yeah, another unlucky one.”
He is reconsidering bowling in the nets to power hitters like Owen and a few of his teammates as a result of the injury.
“I try to avoid bowling to those guys. Guys like Marcus Stoinis, Tim David, Mitch Owen and Cam Green, long levers, strong, it just comes back too quick. It’s not fun. But I should know better. I should know better to bowl into the hip and I’ll be doing that I think come BBL time,” Maxwell said.
Maxwell hit a game-winning 62 not out from 36 deliveries in his final T20I innings against South Africa in August. Last month, he hammered 107 off 82 balls for Victoria in the domestic One-Day Cup encounter against Queensland.
He stated that he is not planning too far ahead when asked about his T20I future.
“I’m literally thinking about round one of the BBL at the moment. Let’s just get there first. If I’m still enjoying my cricket by then… I’m not setting dates or anything,” Maxwell said.
