PAK v AUS 2018: Glenn Maxwell's selection snub a "total injustice", says Geoff Lawson

Maxwell has been continuously ignored despite prolific first-class performances.

Maxwell scored his maiden Test ton in India | Getty

Disappointed that the national selectors continue to ignore him despite prolific domestic performances, former Australia fast bowler Geoff Lawson has said that Glenn Maxwell's non-selection for the just concluded two-match Test series against Pakistan in UAE was "total injustice."

Maxwell, who has done very well domestically and amassed his maiden Test ton on the tour of India last year before scoring runs in Bangladesh, was surprisingly not selected for the next Asian tour in UAE.  It again reiterated that Australian Cricket seems to not see him as potent a red-ball game force as they find him when playing limited overs cricket. 

Maxwell has always clear that he wants to play all three formats for the country but has failed to find the right people backing him. One of the reasons cited for Maxwell's non-selection by head coach Justin Langer was his lack of big hundreds and slightly unorthodox technique. 

But, Lawson disagreed and said, “The Australian cricket community has just about had enough of the Marsh brothers(Shaun and Mitchell),” before further stressing on Sky Sports Radio, “They need some players who can make some runs. I can’t see how they can possibly retain their positions. Mitchell’s hardly doing any bowling, his bowling numbers are dreadful. His batting numbers are dreadful"

"Shaun’s in a form slump that’s continued for a long time. He’s had one good series in his last seven. He’s 35-years-old. He’s not ticking any boxes. None,” he added. 

Recently, very alarmingly, head coach Justin Langer declared publicly that being a “good bloke” is one of the criteria of selection into the Australian team now and that “the message has been since day one that you’ve got to be a good bloke and you’ve got to score runs.”

To this, Lawson emphasized that the criteria seem unfair, as it questions people's ethical values and character. 

“Glenn Maxwell was one. He was ticking all the boxes, maybe Justin Langer doesn’t think he’s a good bloke,” Lawson said, “What is going on? Is Glenn Maxwell not a better batsman at the moment than Marnus Labuschagne or Mitchell Marsh or Shaun Marsh? Of course, he is, so why isn’t he playing. That just seems like a total injustice,” and signed off. 

(Inputs from news.com.au)

 
 

By Kashish Chadha - 22 Oct, 2018

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