Glenn Maxwell has taken an indefinite break from the Indian Premier League due to mental and physical fatigue, while Cricket Australia is sweating on Mitchell Marsh’s fitness after the T20 captain sustained a hamstring injury.
The Royal Challengers Bengaluru, currently reeling at the bottom of the IPL ladder with one win in seven games, did not select Maxwell for Monday evening’s match against the Sunrisers Hyderabad. The Victorian endured a horror start to the glamorous T20 tournament, registering 32 runs in six knocks, including three ducks, while also claiming four wickets.
“He has been unable to play fast bowling, period,” former Indian captain Sunil Gavaskar told Star Sports this week.
“Balls bouncing to his chest or shoulder height are troubling him. He can whack every ball below his waist height, but not the ones above that.”
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Speaking to reporters on Tuesday morning AEST, Maxwell confirmed he decided to opt out of the Sunrisers clash because he felt that he “wasn’t contributing in a positive way”.
“After the first few games hadn’t gone to plan personally for me, it was a pretty easy decision,” Maxwell said.
“I went to (Royal Challengers captain Faf du Plessis) and the coaches last game and said it was time to probably try someone else. I have been in this situation before in the past, where you can keep playing and dig yourself into a hole. Now is actually the best time to give myself a mental and physical break.
“With our results this year, it was quite an easy decision. We haven’t been playing as well as we would have liked as a team, and the results show that. My personal results have reflected the results we have had. Pretty big deficiency straight after the Powerplay and the middle overs, which have been an area of strength of mine the last couple of seasons.
“I felt like I wasn’t contributing in a positive way and it felt like, with the position we find ourselves at the table, to give someone else the opportunity to try their wares and hopefully, someone can make the spot their own.”
Maxwell clarified that he would be available for selection again when he gets “into a solid mental and physical space”.
The Royals Challengers will next face the Kolkata Knights Riders at Eden Gardens on Sunday, with the first ball scheduled for 8pm AEST.
Meanwhile, Marsh has returned home to Australia to manage a hamstring tear he picked up while representing the Delhi Capitals in the IPL. The West Australian is yet to be officially ruled out of the tournament, but the setback comes just seven weeks out from the T20 World Cup in the West Indies and United States of America.
Before the injury, Marsh had registered scores of 20, 23, 18 and 0 for the Capitals, who are currently seventh on the IPL standings. The 32-year-old is expected to lead Australia and bat at No. 3 during the T20 World Cup.
“I think all roads will lead to Mitch, so just got to get that ticked off in certain areas,” Australian coach Andrew McDonald said last month.
“We’re happy and comfortable with the way he’s been able to operate with that T20 team. We think he’s the leader for the World Cup, and I think that will just be a matter of due course.”
Source Agencies
