Critical Lehmann puts Maxwell on notice

Glenn Maxwell's future in the Australian Test squad could be in the balance after coach and selector Darren Lehmann criticised his temperament in the Matador Cup and warned he needed to "be really hungry to make big runs".

The Victorian was named in Australia's Test squad for the postponed tour of Bangladesh and has so far been a subcontinent specialist in the longer format, with his three appearances in the Baggy Green coming in India and against Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates.

Maxwell has repeatedly stated his desire to cement a place in the Test side, travelling to the United Kingdom during the winter in an attempt to increase his exposure to red-ball cricket at Yorkshire.

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Australia's Bupa Support Team Head Coach Lehmann said he believed Maxwell could well be a regular fixture in Australia's Test team but the 26-year-old still had plenty of convincing to do.

"He's exciting, but we have to see him be really hungry to make big runs," Lehmann told 6PR radio.

"Take the example of his (Matador BBQs One-Day Cup) performance on Friday. He was out caught at deep third man, where the wicket was low and slow.

"He really could have played a technical innings, which we know he can do."

Batting at No.4 Maxwell was dismissed for four when he skied Mark Steketee to be easily caught. Victoria had already lost two quick wickets and Maxwell's dismissal saw Victoria lose three wickets for six runs in in less than four overs. 

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Chasing a sub-par total of just 209, Victoria were all out for 180 and state skipper Matthew Wade said the top-order collapse and another burst where they lost 3-1 in the middle order had cost his side the game.

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"We want to see him perform on all types of wickets," Lehmann added. "He's got the whole game to play all the shots, but it's a case of him staying in."

The coach said he had shared "harsh words" with Maxwell in the past, and wouldn't hesitate to do so agin if needed, but was also quick to point out Maxwell had been "brilliant" for Australia, including during the side's victorious World Cup campaign.

"He's been brilliant for us over the last 12 months in the one-day format," Lehmann said.

"But again, it's a case of him taking his game to the next level in the longer format." 

Lehmann said performances in the Matador Cup would play a hand in choosing the side to take on New Zealand in the Commonwealth Bank Test series next month, with selection in the Bangladesh squad no guarantee for the summer.

"Those two Test matches (in Bangladesh) would have given us a great lead into the summer in regards to selection. 

"But we always try to pick on performance and players need to stand up in the Matador Cup and perform at the level they need to." 

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Meanwhile, Western Australian Ashton Agar remains high in Lehmann's esteem after his one-day debut in England last month.

Agar was not named in Australia's Test squad for Bangladesh, but when asked who the go-to second spinner would be when conditions called for it, Lehmann named the 21-year-old alongside New South Wales' Steve O'Keefe.

"Steve O'Keefe would have had first crack at it from the Bangladesh Test squad, but we were very impressed with Ashton Agar in the one-day tour.

"He didn't get as much game time as we would have liked, but that was more the conditions than anything else.

"He's developed nicely as we expect him to. It's about getting those guys some game time in the right conditions."

Agar was called into the one-day side after impressing on Australia A's tour of India in July and August, while O'Keefe cemented his spot in the Bangladesh squad on the same tour.

Fawad Ahmed was Australia's second tweaker for the Caribbean and the Ashes, but was unable to force his way the Test side and was subsequently left out of the Bangladesh touring party.