No Maxwell in Australia ODI squad for England series

Australia have left masterblaster batsman Glenn Maxwell out of their squad for the five-match ODI series against England that follows this week's fifth Ashes Test match. Maxwell, who has played 80 ODIs for his country, can be one of the most destructive and entertaining batsmen in world cricket on his day but captain Steve Smith said he needed to be more consistent. "We've all seen the way he can come out and play, all his funky stuff and he's pretty cool with that," Smith told reporters at the Sydney Cricket Ground. "But when he puts his head down, he's actually a really good batsman. If he keeps his head switched on, and trains really well, and focuses on basic things probably more than expansive things, then I think that'll help him have his consistency.

"He could train a little bit smarter" @stevesmith49 on the omission of Glenn Maxwell from the ODIs.#BBCCricket pic.twitter.com/AZGgdd3NaA

— Test Match Special (@bbctms) January 3, 2018

"If he can find that consistency, he's certainly a guy you'd want in your team." Wicket-keeper Tim Paine has also been recalled for the series nearly seven years after his last ODI, replacing incumbent Matthew Wade as he did in the Test side for the Ashes. "Tim forced his way into the T20I squad last summer and after coming back into the test squad at the beginning of the Ashes series he has made a terrific contribution," said head selector Trevor Hohns.

"I think he could train a little bit smarter. "

Steve Smith explains Glenn Maxwell's omission from Australia's ODI squad to face England: https://t.co/lVAfqFsEvy (Pic: AAP) pic.twitter.com/fyEM6nWlno

— ABC Grandstand (@abcgrandstand) January 3, 2018

"He deserves his opportunity in this form of the game and the challenge for Matthew is to return to the type of form that saw him score a ODI hundred against Pakistan last summer." Smith said he thought that with batsmen like Chris Lynn, Mitchell Marsh and Marcus Stoinis in the squad, Australia had enough big-hitting even without Maxwell. "I think we've got a really strong side, lots of power hitting in the middle," he added.

Dropped for someone with a chronic shoulder injury who no longer plays for his state and warned to improve his training habits: Glenn Maxwell's 2019 World Cup prospects are looking pretty grim https://t.co/2a3s8UxeCs

— Daniel Brettig (@danbrettig) January 3, 2018

"It's obviously unlucky on Glenn...we want to keep seeing consistent performances from him and keep putting his name up there."Squad: Steve Smith, David Warner, Patrick Cummins, Aaron Finch, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Chris Lynn, Mitchell Marsh, Tim Paine, Jhye Richardson, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, Andrew Tye and Adam Zampa

JUST IN: Glenn Maxwell left out of ODI squad as Lynn returns alongside a couple of new faces: https://t.co/grrzOBaPfS #AUSvENG pic.twitter.com/bMXCqWfelb

— cricket.com.au (@CricketAus) January 3, 2018