Head's start could delay Maxwell return

Glenn Maxwell might have to wait a little while longer before making his return to Australia’s 50-over team after the man occupying his one-time regular spot played a significant role in Australia’s 68-run Chappell-Hadlee Trophy ODI win in Sydney on Sunday.

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South Australia’s Travis Head scored a career-best 52 batting at No.6 and combined with skipper Steve Smith in a game-changing fifth wicket stand of 127 in the thumping victory over New Zealand.

But former Australia opener Chris Rogers says Maxwell and Head could co-exist in the ODI side, with the Victorian potentially replacing a fast bowler to line up for his first one-day international in six months in Canberra on Tuesday.

Maxwell was overlooked by Australia’s selection panel for the first ODI, with Smith saying the allrounder’s “disrespectful” comments towards teammate and state captain Matthew Wade were not a factor in his omission.

“It was more about giving Travis another opportunity,” Smith said. “(Head) played well last week, he scored a hundred in (Sheffield) Shield cricket so he’s in good nick.

“I guess it was about them (the selectors) giving (Head) an opportunity first and he played pretty well today as well. He’s taken that opportunity.”

Maxwell was fined by Australia’s leadership group for questioning Wade’s decision to bat himself higher in the batting order in Victoria’s Sheffield Shield XI, but Smith says the two Bushrangers are back on the same page.

“They’re OK,” Smith said. “I made some comments the other day about him that the comments he made were disappointing and disrespectful towards Matty.

“We’ve moved on from that now and it’s about focusing on this series and it was great for us to get a win tonight and hopefully we can play some more good cricket in two days’ time in the nation’s capital.”

While Head looks set to retain his position, Maxwell could come in for the second Victoria Bitter ODI Series match at Manuka Oval for one of Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood or Pat Cummins according to Rogers.

“I think that they really wanted to give Travis Head another go,” Rogers told Optus Sport’s Stumps show.

“He did OK in South Africa, (they wanted to) give him another chance. He had a bit of luck today but he got 50, he’s probably booked himself in for the next two games.

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“I also think perhaps when they go to Canberra, a slower wicket, (Australia) might just rest one of their quicks and play Maxwell, use his spin option and his batting as well.

“I reckon they had a bit of an idea (before) this series how they were going to use 'Maxi'.

“It just so happened that he opened his mouth … and it’s caused a stir.

“It’s a tough one, he’s obviously a very passionate guy and maybe a little bit impulsive as well and it’s come back to bite him."

Tasmanian James Faulkner looms as another option for Australia's selectors ahead of Tuesday, with the allrounder hitting form with the bat via a maiden Sheffield Shield hundred last week.

Rogers said Faulkner, who boasts an impressive all-round ODI record with bat and ball, would likely come into calculations.

“At some stage you want to get (Faulkner) involved as well the way his record is for Australia," he said. 

“It's hard to know, maybe if they did go in with Maxwell they might even bring Faulkner in instead of Mitch Marsh, but I’d like to see them give Mitch another go, he hasn’t had much luck today.”

Marsh was run-out for one when a deflection off the hands of Black Caps allrounder Jimmy Neesham caught the Australian out of his crease at the non-striker’s end.

The wicket of the Western Australian reduced Australia to 4-92 in the 21st over, but that’s where Head and Smith came together to wrestle the momentum off the tourists and set about building a solid launching pad for the lower order.

“It was crucial,” Smith said of his partnership with Head.

“When (Head) came out to bat we were saying to try and get through to 40 overs then we can have a bit of a crack at them.

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“We still played quite positively through that period and scored five an over.

“We set ourselves up nicely with that partnership and the way he played was beautiful.

“He got dropped at mid-off (on seven) but besides from that he played some really good cricket and it was nice to see Matthew Wade (38 off 22) come in at the end a play a good little cameo as well.”

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