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Maxwell responds to Lehmann criticism

Allrounder Glenn Maxwell says he is not fazed after being put on notice by coach Darren Lehmann

Victorian allrounder Glenn Maxwell has taken Darren Lehmann’s latest public criticism in his stride as he aims to push his case for a Test recall ahead of next month’s series against New Zealand.

Australia’s Bupa Support Team Head Coach hasn’t been afraid to put Maxwell on notice via the media in the past, and Lehmann was at it again last week following Victoria’s Matador BBQs One-Day Cup loss to Queensland.

Quick single: Critical Lehmann puts Maxwell on notice

The Bushrangers allrounder arrived at the crease after two early wickets with his side facing a tricky run chase, and his dismissal courtesy of a top edge down to third man triggered a collapse that the Victorians never recovered from.

Watch: Maxwell hits out against Bulls

"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 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.

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

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

Maxwell responded to his coach’s public message with a man-of-the-match performance in the crucial win against the Alcohol.Think Again Western Warriors.

Returning to Blacktown International Sportspark – the scene of the dismissal at the centre of Lehmann’s criticism – Maxwell scored an important 51 on a difficult batting surface before chipping in with three wickets to round out the high-quality display.

The 27-year-old admitted he spoke with the national coach about the remarks during the two-day red-ball training camp at Hurstville Oval in Sydney this week.

"He’s probably going to take credit for that, which is rubbish," Maxwell said with a laugh at Victorian training in Bankstown today.

"He does it a fair bit, doesn’t he? I had a chat to him yesterday and it’s all good.

"He has a couple of snide remarks every now and again. He doesn’t mind having a dig at me, which is fine.

"He knows I take it pretty well and I challenge him back. It’s a good relationship we have.

"He’s always driving me to be better and he wants me to be playing all three formats.

"It’s nice to be thought of that way. I’ve just got to make him pick me and then hopefully I can show him out in the field."

Watch: Maxwell's important fifty

Maxwell was selected in the Test squad for the postponed Qantas Tour of Bangladesh scheduled to be held this month and believes it would have been an opportunity to showcase his improvement in the longer format.

The entertaining allrounder pursued more red-ball cricket in the winter with county side Yorkshire after an extended period of limited-overs cricket ahead of this year’s ODI World Cup that ultimately saw him named in the official Team of the Tournament.

Maxwell then showed solid form in the County Championship with a batting average of 40.66 – which is a slight improvement on his career first-class average – and followed that up with an impressive display in the ODI component of the Qantas Tour of British Isles.

With selectors confirming they will take one-day form into account when naming a squad for the first Commonwealth Bank Test starting November 5, Maxwell is still hopeful of pushing his case with some strong performances over the next few weeks.

"I had some good form in England playing red-ball cricket," he said.

"I feel like my red-ball game is really good at the moment, so it’s about getting the opportunity to actually play it and show people.

"Those people who turn up to the games and spray me, soaking that in and showing what I actually do in the red-ball game.

"I’ve just got to make the most of that Shield game in Melbourne when we get back and just try to make as many runs as I can there and put my name up for the first Test.

"I don’t really set too many goals as far as runs or anything like that. I just want to make sure I’m contributing and trying to be the match-winner in every game I’m playing.

"That’s my role in most of the teams I play. It’s about trying to win the game for team and doing as well as I can."

Maxwell wasn’t the only Bushranger to be on the receiving end of some criticism from Lehmann, with the Australia coach taking aim at Victoria’s David Saker this week for leaving Peter Siddle out of the Matador Cup XI leading into the international summer.

While Saker is yet to respond publicly to the comments, Maxwell was taking a light-hearted approach to the jibe towards his Bushrangers coach.

"They can have as many sprays as they want," Maxwell said.

"I’m going to spray both of them, so it doesn’t really worry me.

"It was a good bit of niggle yesterday when Aaron Finch tested (Darren) out and asked him why he was spraying our coach.

"Boof just played it straight down the line as usual."