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Victoria confident of retaining Maxwell

Enigmatic allrounder remains a highly-valued commodity as Shield champs look to 2017-18

Cricket Victoria CEO Tony Dodemaide is hopeful of retaining the services of Glenn Maxwell for the 2017-18 season after the Australia batsman enjoyed a breakout Test tour of India.

Maxwell, who had hopes of a move to New South Wales kyboshed ahead of last summer because he was outside the transfer window, has been with the Bushrangers since his first-class debut in 2010-11 and it's expected that is where he'll remain for at least the next year.

However, with the Cricket Australia - Australian Cricketers' Association Memorandum of Understanding expiring in the coming months, players cannot sign new contracts with states or KFC Big Bash League clubs until a new one is agreed upon.

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"From everything I have heard … it's all good," Dodemaide told Fairfax of Maxwell's likelihood of staying with the Sheffield Shield champions for the past three years running.

"Glenn had those contemplations at the start of last year but, as far as I am aware, he is happily moving forward with us.

"Obviously, that's what we want.

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"He is a terrific young player and he has taken some great steps forward, making his first Test hundred, and hundreds in all three forms of the game, and we hope that he is an Australian player for a long period to come, and a Victorian in the meantime."

Maxwell's century in the third Test against India came from No.6, with the allrounder winning selection in what has been a troublesome position for Australia in recent years ahead of the likes of Marcus Stoinis, Ashton Agar and Hilton Cartwright.

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Mitchell Marsh has primarily occupied the position since he debuted in October 2014 and despite failing to cement his place in the team, will likely come back into calculations ahead of a home Ashes series on pace-friendly pitches, meaning Maxwell is far from a certainty to retain his place.

"Conditions will dictate which way they go when they get back to Australia," former Australia captain Michael Clarke said last month in a live chat on his Facebook page, adding that Maxwell's bowling was "underrated".

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"Will they want the fourth fast-bowling option as the allrounder, or will they stay with Glenn Maxwell?

"Especially if Steve Smith is not bowling 'Maxi', then he becomes a legitimate batsman so he's got to be making a lot of runs to stay in the team.

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"And I think this current Australian team likes to have an allrounder so I think when they get back from India (to Australia), I think they'll go back to three fast bowlers, an allrounder at No.6 with the one spinner in Nathan Lyon.

"But time will tell. If Glenn Maxwell keeps making runs, they have to keep picking him and I thought he was fantastic (in Ranchi)."

"I had doubted whether I'd play Test cricket again"

Maxwell's motivation for a move interstate was reported to have been triggered by frustration at his position in the Bushrangers batting order, where he regularly found himself at five or six behind Stoinis and even wicketkeeper-batsman Matt Wade.

But with Stoinis reportedly considering a move back to Western Australia and Wade likely to return to his home state of Tasmania, Maxwell's dilemma could theoretically solve itself.

The right-hander's case will also be bolstered by his runs in Baggy Green, while he could also emerge as a captaincy contender in the absence of Wade, particularly if Peter Handscomb remains embedded in the Test team.

Maxwell, 28, is currently playing in the Indian Premier League, captaining Kings XI Punjab for the first time this tournament.

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2017-18 International Fixtures:

Men's Ashes Series


First Test Gabba, November 23-27


Second Test Adelaide Oval, December 2-6 (Day-Night)


Third Test Perth TBC, December 14-18


Fourth Test MCG, December 26-30


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


ODI Series v England


First ODI MCG, January 14


Second ODI Gabba, January 19


Third ODI SCG, January 21


Fourth ODI Adelaide Oval, January 26


Fifth ODI Perth TBC, January 28


Prime Minister's XI


PM's XI v England Manuka Oval, February 2


T20 trans-Tasman Tri-Series


First T20I Australia v NZ, SCG, February 3


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


Third T20I – Australia v England, MCG, February 10


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


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