Ricky Ponting reckons that Glenn Maxwell should be picked for India tour

Ricky Ponting believes that Glenn Maxwell would be a perfect addition to the Australian squad that will be traveling to India to play a bevy of Tests, ODIs, and T20Is against the Indian team in the early months of 2017. Maxwell has been in a terrible patch of form and has seemingly found it difficult to find consistency in recent times. He has been left out of the squad on several occasions following poor performances.

However, the former Australian skipper Ponting has gone on to suggest that it would certainly be a plus to have an all-rounder who can bowl and also play the big shots at the same time. Even Ashton Agar is someone in close contention, to say the least.

“I would take him in the squad, definitely,” Ponting said on Channel Ten during the Melbourne Stars’ KFC Big Bash League fixture against Hobart Hurricanes.

“You need a batting spin bowler. There’ll be other names mentioned, too, like Ashton Agar, I think his name will certainly come up.

Ponting went on to compare the 27-year old to Moeen Ali who has worked wonders for England in Tests in recent times. “I think (Maxwell’s bowling) is quite good, it’s quite consistent. He’s not an out-and-out Test first-choice spin bowler, but he is useful. Moeen Ali has developed into quite a good spinner now having played a couple of years for England.”

“He’s been in the headlines for all the wrong reasons,” Ponting said. “It’s been an indifferent couple of months for him. Hasn’t played a lot of cricket either but what I know about this guy is he is one of the very, very best T20 players in the world, be that with the bat or his off-spin or out in the field. He is a class act.”

Former Australian all-rounder Andrew Symonds went on to add that Maxwell was someone who needed to make up his mind on the kind of player he wanted to be. “He needs to make up his mind what he’s doing,” Symonds said.

Symonds went on to conclude, “I don’t know the man very well at all, but having the right people around you at a difficult time is key, so you’re getting the right advice. Sometimes the freest I felt was when I was actually playing cricket. Sometimes that’s the only (sanctuary) you can get.”