Maxwell takes ODI axing on the chin

Australia vice-captain David Warner says Glenn Maxwell has taken his demotion on the chin and is determined to fight his way back into the XI.

Less than five months after being crowned Australia's ODI Player of the Year, Maxwell was a shock omission on Sunday.

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The Victorian was dropped for the ODI tri-series match against South Africa in St Kitts, with selectors instead banking on Tasmania's George Bailey to shore up the middle order.

The off-spinning allrounder was voted Australia's best ODI player at the Allan Border Medal count in January, having scored his maiden century in the format during the 2015 World Cup.

Maxwell averaged 56.33 with the bat in a productive home series against India at the start of the year, having seemingly cemented his place in the side.

But since then he has totalled nine runs from five ODI knocks, including scores of zero and three during the ongoing Caribbean tri-series.

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It is the first time the 27-year-old has been left out of an Australian one-day side, on account of form, since November 2014.

"He took it pretty well. I think he knows that he wasn't scoring as many runs as he'd like and not having as much impact with the ball," Warner said.

"You've got to take what the selectors have told you on the chin, (and) work on getting better in the areas you have to improve on.

"He's the type of quality player that will get himself back into this team by doing just that."

Maxwell made a good impression after the snub, plucking a spectacular one-handed catch while serving as a substitute fielder for Warner.

The allrounder was wrongly judged lbw during Australia's loss to South Africa last week in Georgetown, while he was bowled by a ripping off-break from Sunil Narine at the same venue in the match prior.

He expressed confidence on match eve that a big score was around the corner.

"Unfortunately I've had a couple of low scores in a row but that'll change soon," he told broadcaster TEN Sports.

Quick Single: Warner upbeat about injured finger

With Warner under an injury cloud due to a damaged finger, Maxwell looms as a likely replacement should the vice-captain fail to prove his fitness for Australia's next encounter – against the West Indies in St Kitts on Tuesday morning from 3am (AEST).