Glenn Maxwell says it has been "painful" to be batting further down the order than wicketkeeper and captain Matthew Wade at state level, believing the decision may have hurt his chances of a Test recall this summer despite an impressive recent first-class record.

The electrifying all-rounder is back in an Australian uniform this week for Sunday's first one-dayer against New Zealand at the SCG but was overlooked for a first ever Test appearance on home soil when selectors changed more than half the squad for the pink-ball Test against South Africa in Adelaide.

'I think because he's captain and he chooses the batting order': Glenn Maxwell would like to bat higher in the order for Victoria. Credit:AP

Not helping his cause this season has been where Wade, the Bushrangers captain and recalled Test gloveman, has had him batting for the defending Sheffield Shield champions.

In the crucial match against NSW at the SCG last month that featured most of the Test squad and led into the selection of the new-look line-up for Adelaide, Maxwell batted at No.6, behind all-rounder Marcus Stoinis at No.3, Peter Handscomb at No.4 and Wade himself at No.5. In the other match Wade and Maxwell have played alongside each other in the Shield this season the captain has also batted himself above the all-rounder.