Glenn Maxwell returns to County championship after four years

Glenn Maxwell (Photo Source: Instagram/maxiholics32)

Australian all-rounder Glenn Maxwell is making a rare appearance in first-class cricket for Warwickshire in their county championship clash with Kent on July 10, in Canterbury. Maxwell has been at Edgbaston as an overseas signing for the Birmingham Bears in the T20 Blast. However, Birmingham has been knocked out of the tournament following a two-wicket loss against Essex on in the first Quarter-final.

Maxwell had a disappointing campaign in the T20 Blast 2023 as he scored 248 runs in 14 matches at an average of 17.71 and a strike rate of 153.08. The all-rounder is making his first county appearance since a stint with Lancashire in 2019. Since then, the 34-year-old has played just one first-class game which came for Victoria against South Australia earlier this year in February. On the other hand, he last played a Test against Bangladesh at Chattogram in September 2017.

Maxwell has filled in for Pakistani overseas seamer Hassan Ali for Warwickshire. The county club had Dom Bess on loan recently as Jacob Bethell’s back injury has made him only fit to bat at present. As a result, Maxwell will serve as the spin option in Canterbury, where Kent won the toss and opted to bat first.

However, they didn’t get off to the best of starts as they were reduced to 77/6 at Lunch. Chris Rushworth and Oliver Hannon-Dalby picked up two wickets each while Henry Brookes picked up one wicket while Maxwell bowled three overs giving away six runs in the first session.

Maxwell had a great season in IPL 2023

Glenn Maxwell had a great outing in the recent IPL 2023 for Royal Challengers Bangalore where he amassed 400 runs in 14 games at an average of 33.33 and a strike rate of 183.48 with five fifties to his name.

He will be seen returning in international colours in the three-match T20I series against South Africa beginning on August 30. Maxwell is expected to play a crucial role for Australia in the ODI World Cup 2023 in India.