Maxi hopes technique change is the answer

Glenn Maxwell plans to stand tall in more ways than one this summer as he targets his first ever Ashes series and his maiden Test on home soil.

Maxwell is one of the leading contenders to fill the vacant No.6 role for the first Magellan Ashes Test but is currently stuck in a run drought that has seen him go without a half-century in all forms of the game since his breakthrough Test ton against India last February.

The right-hander desperately needs a score of substance in the remaining two JLT Sheffield Shield matches ahead of the Gabba Test in order to push ahead of in-form WA duo Hilton Cartwright and Shaun Marsh as well as untried youngsters like NSW left-hander Daniel Hughes.

Having spent most of the year on low wickets in the subcontinent, Maxwell has revealed he's made some subtle changes to his technique now that he's back on the bouncier Australian wickets.

"I've changed a few things in the last couple of weeks," he said ahead of Victoria’s Shield clash against South Australia at the MCG, starting on Saturday. "I've changed my stance slightly and where I hold the bat.

"It's a slight change but I've already noticed watching some footage back that it's tightened my defence a little bit and made me hit the ball a little bit straighter.

"When you're in the subcontinent, you crouch quite low and you can end up using your hands a lot. Even looking back on footage of my hundred in Ranchi (against India), I was quite low the whole time. When you get back to Australia, you've got to be a little bit taller to make sure you're hitting the ball straight.

"It was something I'd noticed had crept into my game ... I've been able to drive the ball a little bit better once I've stood a bit taller."

Coach Darren Lehmann and captain Steve Smith have made it abundantly clear in the media that Shield runs early in the season will hold plenty of weight when selectors come to settling on the No.6 for the first Test.

Maxwell says he hasn't been given any specific messages from the selection panel, saying the public memo is loud and clear.

"Not at all and I wouldn't expect it either," he said when asked if he'd spoken to selectors personally about the race for the No.6 spot.

"I think it's pretty self-explanatory with what they've said, they want runs from all the batters around the country so they have options to pick.

"And all that is out of my control, what happens in a couple of weeks’ time."

Despite being short of runs, the technical changes Maxwell has made have given him confidence that the big score he needs is imminent.

He made just 7 and 20 in the opening Shield round against Queensland last week and with just two matches remaining before the Test squad is named, time is running out.

"With those technical changes I felt really good in the second innings in Brisbane and I started to drive the ball like I used to and my defence was tight," he said.

"I felt really comfortable but unfortunately I top-edged a pull shot, which I haven't done much recently.

"Unfortunately, you make one mistake and that can be the end.

"But I feel really good and I feel like a big score is just around the corner."

Commonwealth Bank Victorian Bushrangers Squad: Peter Handscomb (C), Fawad Ahmed, Scott Boland, Dan Christian, Travis Dean, Aaron Finch, Sam Harper, Marcus Harris, Glenn Maxwell, Peter Siddle, Chris Tremain, Cameron White

West End South Australian Redbacks: Travis Head (c), Callum Ferguson, Alex Carey, Tom Cooper, John Dalton, Jake Lehmann, Joe Mennie, Kane Richardson, Chadd Sayers, Jake Weatherald, Daniel Worrall, Adam Zampa.