Maxwell’s Test Dreams Dashed by Ricky Ponting who Says First-class Career is Must for Test Recall 

Glenn Maxwell’s long-cherished dream of representing Australia in Test cricket again has suffered a major blow after Ricky Ponting, the legendary former captain, declared that he “doesn’t deserve it.”

The swashbuckling all-rounder, who starred in the recent Cricket World Cup, has only played seven Tests for Australia, all of which came on overseas tours between 2012 and 2017.

Despite being primarily known for his exploits in white-ball cricket, Maxwell has always harbored ambitions of playing the longer format. He recently admitted that his chances of making a Test comeback during the upcoming Australian summer were slim, but expressed his desire to be considered for the tour of Sri Lanka in 2025.

“Obviously, I would have loved to have played a Test at home,” Maxwell told SEN Mornings. “I haven’t given up, I think I’ve just got to be realistic about the timings of the way I’ve been playing my white-ball cricket,” he added.

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Maxwell pointed out the challenges posed by his schedule, which often doesn’t leave him with enough time to play first-class cricket, the traditional pathway to Test selection. “You play a World Cup and then you don’t play any (Sheffield) Shield cricket.”

“You play at the back end of summer in white ball (internationals) and don’t play any Shield cricket. So it’s just the way it’s gone over the last 10 years of my career really,” he explained.

Ponting, however, believes that any player without recent red-ball success at Shield level shouldn’t be considered for Test selection. “No one deserves a chance unless you’ve got a truckload of first-class runs behind you,” Ponting told Channel 7.

“He (Maxwell) doesn’t deserve it. But if he gets a chance to go back and make some first-class runs then he can force his way back in,” he added.

Maxwell has only played a single Shield match since October 2019, highlighting the difficulty of balancing his white-ball commitments with the demands of first-class cricket. Nevertheless, he remains hopeful of earning a Test recall for overseas tours, particularly the upcoming trips to the West Indies and Sri Lanka.

READ MORE: Glenn Maxwell Eyes Test Comeback on Subcontinent Tour

“I’m quite understanding the circumstances of the current side. They’re playing some really good cricket, they’re World Test champions,” Maxwell told SEN.

“There are not a lot of spots up for grabs as far as Tests at home, but I know that when it does come to a subcontinent tour I can be a real viable option to hopefully fill a role in that side. So, I’ll keep trying to plug away and hopefully get an opportunity at that stage,” he added.

While Maxwell’s immediate Test future appears uncertain, his talent and X-factor on overseas tours cannot be ignored. Ponting’s stern words may serve as a wake-up call for the all-rounder, urging him to prioritize first-class cricket if he truly wants to wear the baggy green again.