Legendary Australian skipper Ricky Ponting has expressed his support for Glenn Maxwell after he was ignored by the Australian selectors for the ODI series against England. Speaking after the one-day team was made public, current captain Steve Smith said Maxwell needed to train smarter.

"I hoped all those things were said to his face, not said in the media," Ponting said on Channel Ten.

"That's not having a go at Steve Smith at all, or the selectors, but it is a bit of direction about how he'll get himself back in the team.

"I don't mind if it was said to him first - if he's picked up the paper and seen it talked about in a press conference, that's one of the great challenges with captaincy and player management, man management if you like.Those things should never be spoken about out of school but we'll see."

"It's been pretty tough but I've had some good people around me, especially with the Stars family," Maxwell said. Ponting added that it was now a question of how Maxwell responds and said he was clearly a player with a lot of class.He is very good in the field and with the ball. He is a very good package - he just has to string a few good innings together," Ponting said.

Ponting added that it was now a question of how Maxwell responds and said he was clearly a player with a lot of class.

"He is very good in the field and with the ball. He is a very good package -he just has to string a few good innings together," Ponting said.

Australian ODI squad for England series. 

Steve Smith (c), David Warner (vc), Pat Cummins, Aaron Finch, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Chris Lynn, Mitchell Marsh, Tim Paine, Jhye Richardson, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, Andrew Tye, Adam Zampa

Gillette ODI Series v England

First ODI MCG, January 14

Second ODI Gabba, January 19

Third ODI SCG, January 21 

Fourth ODI Adelaide Oval, January 26

Fifth ODI Perth Stadium, January 28