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Maxwell working to 'change perceptions'

Dumped allrounder understands reasoning behind ODI axing, hopeful of returning before 2019 World Cup

Glenn Maxwell says while he's "extremely disappointed" to lose his spot in Australia's one-day international side, he's vowed to continue attempts to "change certain perceptions" about him.

Despite sitting atop the JLT Sheffield Shield's run-scorers list with 590 runs at 74 at the halfway mark of the competition, Maxwell was axed for the five-match Gillette ODI series against England later this month.

National selectors pointed to his batting average of 22 from his 20 most recent 50-over games for Australia, while captain Steve Smith suggested the Victorian could "train a little bit smarter".

Smith's comments surprised former Test captain Steve Waugh while his successor Ricky Ponting said he hoped Maxwell had been given the same feedback privately.

Waugh surprised by Smith's Maxwell statement

Maxwell said his conversation with chairman of selectors Trevor Hohns centred on his below-par returns in ODI cricket over his last 20 games, a period which stretches back to a 2016 tour of New Zealand and has yielded two scores greater than fifty in 16 innings.

"I was extremely disappointed not to be in that one day side, but I completely understood the reasoning from Trevor Hohns that my last 20 ODIs haven’t been good enough," Maxwell told cricket.com.au after the Stars’ six-wicket defeat in the Melbourne BBL derby.

"That was the phone call I received. You can't really say too much to that.

"I'm sure there's other stats that probably say that maybe I was a little bit stiff, but there's stats that say it was my time to be left out.

"I can't do too much about it now."

Hohns also suggested the panel wanted to see more consistency from Maxwell, an element of his game he's worked tirelessly on in recent times.

In addition to making a concerted effort to keep his attacking instincts in check – against the red ball in particular – Maxwell changed his batting stance in recent months by bringing his feet closer together.

It was a tweak that required hours of fine-tuning in the nets and feedback from Bushrangers coaches Andrew McDonald and Lachie Stevens.

Maxwell 'could train a little bit smarter': Smith

Maxwell also spent so much time working on his sweep shot in the lead-in to last year's Test tour of Bangladesh that he woke up one morning with a limp and a minor glute injury from all the lunging.

The toil has paid off in the early part of the Shield season after being promoted to No.3 for Victoria and although he hasn't posted a standout knock in four KFC BBL games for the Stars, Maxwell feels in good touch.

"I feel like I've been in good form this summer and I was hoping that would get me the nod," he continued.

"They (selectors) asked me to go away and make runs and I tried to pile them on.

"I tried to change certain things and change certain perceptions.

Maxwell reaches 50 for Stars at MCG

"I felt like I went a long way to doing that by being the leading run scorer (in the Shield) heading into Christmas.

"Even at the start of this Big Bash, I've played a lot more sensible, I've tried to be the rock for our team.

"I feel like I've made big strides this summer, both technique-wise and mentally."

While the news of his ODI omission was gutting, Maxwell concedes the timing of it gives him ample time to push his case for the next World Cup.

Having struck 324 runs at 65 in Australia's 2015 World Cup-winning campaign on home soil, the right-hander hopes a recall is forthcoming for June's five-match ODI tour of the United Kingdom where Australia will play at some of the likely venues for next year's showpiece 50-over tournament.

"Hopefully I can get on that plane to England and play over there and put my name forward for the 2019 World Cup," he said.

"That's the good side of it - I got dropped now and not at this time next year before the World Cup when there's less time to put your name forward.

"There's still time."

2017-18 International Fixtures

Magellan Ashes Series

Australia Test squad: Steve Smith (c), David Warner (vc), Ashton Agar, Cameron Bancroft, Usman Khawaja, Peter Handscomb, Shaun Marsh, Mitchell Marsh, Tim Paine (wk), Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood, Jackson Bird.

England Test squad: Joe Root (c), James Anderson (vc), Moeen Ali, Jonny Bairstow, Jake Ball, Gary Ballance, Stuart Broad, Alastair Cook, Mason Crane, Tom Curran, Ben Foakes, Dawid Malan, Craig Overton, Ben Stokes, Mark Stoneman, James Vince, Chris Woakes.

First Test Australia won by 10 wickets. Scorecard

Second Test Australia won by 120 runs (Day-Night). Scorecard

Third Test Australia won by an innings and 41 runs. Scorecard

Fourth Test Match drawn. Tickets

Fifth Test SCG, January 4-8 (Pink Test). Scorecard

Gillette ODI Series v England

First ODI MCG, January 14. Tickets

Second ODI Gabba, January 19. Tickets

Third ODI SCG, January 21. Tickets

Fourth ODI Adelaide Oval, January 26. Tickets

Fifth ODI Perth Stadium, January 28. Tickets

Prime Minister's XI

PM's XI v England Manuka Oval, February 2. Tickets

Gillette T20 trans-Tasman Tri-Series

First T20I Australia v NZ, SCG, February 3. Tickets

Second T20I – Australia v England, Blundstone Arena, February 7. Tickets

Third T20I – Australia v England, MCG, February 10. Tickets

Fourth T20I – NZ v England, Wellington, February 14

Fifth T20I – NZ v Australia, Eden Park, February 16

Sixth T20I – NZ v England, Seddon Park, February 18

Final – TBC, Eden Park, February 21