Maxwell backed to turn around slump

The challenge of dragging himself out of the most significant batting slump of his one-day international career will bring the best out of Glenn Maxwell, according to teammate Josh Hazlewood.

Maxwell is currently experiencing his longest run of low scores since he made his ODI debut almost four years ago, the allrounder having gone five consecutive innings without registering double figures.

The right-hander has posted 0, 6, 0, 0 and 3 in his past five knocks, a run of outs that comes on the back of some standout performances during Australia's series win over India in January, including a match-winning 96 at the MCG.

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Following Australia's 47-run loss to South Africa in Guyana on Wednesday morning (AEST), in which Maxwell contributed three runs before being on the wrong end of an incorrect umpiring decision, Hazlewood backed his World Cup winning teammate to return to his best.

"He's obviously a bit disappointed and cricket obviously has its up and downs all the time," Hazlewood said.

"I'm sure he'll bounce back in our next game or in this tri-series. There's going to be plenty of opportunities with a number of games coming up.

"With the type of player Maxi is, he loves a challenge and it'll get the best out of him."

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Maxwell's recent ODI form has sandwiched an extended period of T20 cricket in India; he scored between 22 and 31 from four innings during Australia's World T20 campaign in India and was below his best in the Indian Premier League, scoring 179 runs from 11 matches at a strike rate of 144, with two half-centuries.

Maxwell's IPL campaign underlined his oft mercurial nature; he was dismissed for less than five on six occasions during the tournament, but also produced match-changing performances of 32no, 56 and 68 as his Kings XI Punjab finished second-last on the ladder.

With the likes of George Bailey, Travis Head and James Faulkner still yet to get their chance this ODI tri-series, Maxwell's place in the side could come under scrutiny should his current form continue.

But a shift away from Guyana's Providence Stadium, a bowler-friendly venue just outside the capital to Georgetown, to Warner Park in St Kitts could boost Maxwell's chances of retention for Sunday morning's re-match with the Proteas.

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Conditions at Warner Park generally offer more pace and bounce than in Guyana, while the shorter boundaries should also allow for more free-flowing batting than what was witnessed in the opening three matches of the series.

If the pitch at Warner Park plays as expected, Maxwell's ability to send down some overs of off-spin could balance out the likely decision of Australia to drop one of Nathan Lyon and Adam Zampa and play just a lone frontline spinner for the rest of the series.

Maxwell was used sparingly in Guyana, bowling just five overs across two matches as Lyon and Zampa excelled on a slow surface.

But should, as expected, Australia opt for a more pace-heavy attack in St Kitts, Maxwell's all-round ability should work in his favour at selection. 

"He's bowled quite well in these first two games on wickets that suited him," Hazlewood said after Maxwell claimed figures of 2-15 against the Proteas, the first time in 10 matches he's taken two wickets or more in an innings.

"He's a valuable member to bowl six or seven or even 10 overs if he's on a roll. So he's a very important member of our team."

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Hazlewood said he was feeling fresh after playing Australia's opening two matches of the tri-series, his first in any format for more than two months.

The right-armer excelled against South Africa, finishing with 2-20 from 10 overs, the most economical 10-over spell by an Australian opening bowler since his hero Glenn McGrath in 2005.

Hazlewood was without strike partner Mitchell Starc for the match - the left-armer was rested after playing his first game in six months last Sunday - and the small gaps between matches on this tour could dictate that Hazlewood be given a break at some stage during the series as well.

But having bowled just three overs in Australia's opening match against the West Indies, Hazlewood is feeling fresh.

"The body feels pretty good," he said. "The first game was probably a good lead in actually.

"To spend some time in the field and get a few miles in my legs and only bowl a couple of overs with the spinners doing the majority of the work (was good).

"And I felt really good today in this heat, we're not quite used to it and it does take you out of it. But I feel pretty good at the moment.

"There's a little bit of rust there, which is to be expected after having a bit of a break.

“But we've been training for a month-and-a-half now and have been bowling a fair bit back home. The ball feels like it's coming out pretty well. It's a good start."