Veteran Ashes heroes Warne and Slater want Glenn Maxwell to feature in the first Test

While the Australian team looks set and well prepped up for the upcoming Ashes, the Aussie team management is yet to decide on a No. 6 batsman. For long, they have been devoid of an able and in-form batsman for the spot and it is one of the pressing concerns right now.

Test incumbent Glenn Maxwell is under pressure to hold onto the No.6 spot in Australia’s XI having gone seven Test knocks without a half-century since his breakthrough hundred against India in March. However, former Australian Ashes heroes Shane Warne and Michael Slater have called for national selectors to keep the faith in the all-rounder for the upcoming series against England.

The opinions of Warne and Slater differed when it came to the vacant wicketkeeping berth for the Magellan Ashes, with Warne backing Matthew Wade and Slater calling for change. Slater backed NSW gloveman Peter Nevill to regain his Test spot and while Warne agreed that Nevill should not have been dropped 12 months ago, selectors had to back in Wade at the moment.

Warne describes Maxwell as a matchwinner

Courtesy of his newfound form, Maxwell recently scored two fifties in the JLT Sheffield Shield last week and Warne has called on selectors to be ‘bold and aggressive’ by picking the enigmatic Victorian.

Lauding the all-rounder, Warne wrote in the Herald Sun, “All teams need matchwinners and make no mistake, Maxi is one of those,”

“He (Maxwell) makes things happen in all facets of the game but needs encouragement from the leaders to express himself. The big occasions bring out the best in this type of player and the selectors have to show faith in his talent,” Warne also added.

With the Ashes closing in, a number of potential contenders have cropped up to fill in the void. Western Australia’s Hilton Cartwright has been dubbed as the strong favourite to be the Australian No. 6 in Brisbane, while Peter Nevill has his head in front to be the test wicketkeeper. Darren Lehmann’s son Jake Lehmann is also a firm favourite for the No 6 spot.