Siddle's blunt advice for Maxwell

Fast bowler Peter Siddle has offered Glenn Maxwell some blunt advice following the allrounder’s maiden Test century in Ranchi on Friday, telling his Victorian teammate “don’t talk” and “just make runs”.

Maxwell became just the second Australian to complete a trifecta of centuries across all formats of the game on day two at JSCA Stadium, delivering on his oft-repeated assertion that his game is most suited to the longest format after he brought up a ton in just his fourth Test.

His return to the Test side continued what’s been a rollercoaster 12 months for Maxwell, who was last year dropped from – and returned to – Australia’s one-day side, while his domestic summer began with him on the outer of Victoria’s Sheffield Shield side.

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Fined by a panel of his playing peers last November after he suggested his chances of a Test recall were being harmed by Victoria captain Matthew Wade’s decision to bat himself ahead of the allrounder at Shield level, Maxwell instead let his bat do the talking in Ranchi – and that’s how Siddle would like to see the 28-year-old continue.

“I just think with Maxi, there was always a lot of talk about, he should be in the Test team, ‘I should be this, I should be that’,” Siddle told Fox Sports’ Gameday Live.

“I think the best thing for him to do was just to go out there and just make runs, mate.

“He did that in the T20s against Sri Lanka (last September when he blasted a record hundred and record fifty), he was out of the (one-day) team and he just went out there and scored runs. I think that’s what he has to do.

“We know how talented you are, don’t talk about it, just go out there and make runs and make them pick you. I think that’s what all the great batsmen that haven’t been in the side have done.

“He’s shown that now, he knows he can play a different game and perform out there. It was awesome to watch, just because it was so different than the normal Maxi. I think that’s what makes it so special.”

Siddle heaped praise on Maxwell for his efforts in Ranchi, where he shared a 191-run stand with captain Steve Smith after coming to the crease with the tourists 4-140.

Now, the Victorian paceman wants to see Maxwell relax and make the most of his opportunity at No.6.

“Just relax, go out there and score runs. He does put a lot of pressure on himself, he is very emotional. He just loves the game, he loves scoring runs, he loves playing for Australia, Victoria,” Siddle said.

“It is great to see a Victorian teammate out there performing well and getting his opportunity.

“I can’t emphasise enough about him just going out there and batting, not worrying about telling everyone good you are – because we know how good he is.

“I think just going out there and batting, he showed us over the last couple of days how good he can be.

“It was an amazing innings (at a) tough stage and to turn around with Smithy and to do what he did, I think, was great to see.”

Speaking after his innings on Friday, Maxwell revealed he had doubted whether he would ever make it back into the Test team.

"To get back in the side in the first place was something I really held close to my heart," Maxwell said.

"I was so happy to be able to walk back on the field with the Australian Test team with the Baggy Green cap on, and I was just filled with joy when I got told I had the opportunity to do that again.

"I didn’t want to waste the opportunity, didn’t want to make it my last Test, that’s for sure.

"I was in a place where I doubted whether I'd play Test cricket again, whether I'd have a chance to put the cap back on.”

Test Squads

India (for third and fourth Tests): Virat Kohli (c), Murali Vijay, KL Rahul, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Wriddhiman Saha, Ravichandaran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Ishant Sharma, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Umesh Yadav, Karun Nair, Jayant Yadav, Kuldeep Yadav, Abhinav Mukund.

Australia: Steve Smith (c), David Warner (vc), Ashton Agar, Jackson Bird, Pat Cummins, Peter Handscomb, Josh Hazlewood, Usman Khawaja, Nathan Lyon, Shaun Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Stephen O'Keefe, Matthew Renshaw, Marcus Stoinis, Mitchell Swepson, Matthew Wade

Australia's schedule in India

Feb 23-27, First Test, Pune - Australia won by 333 runs.

Mar 4-8, Second Test, Bengaluru - India won by 75 runs.

Mar 16-20, Third Test, Ranchi

Mar 25-29, Fourth Test, Dharamsala