CRICKET Australia will work to make sure Glenn Maxwell plays Sheffield Shield this summer in the unlikely event Victoria try to leave the star all-rounder out again.

It’s understood Maxwell is among a group of players on the selection panel’s shortlist for the all-important Test tour of India next year, and it would be an untenable situation for the 28-year-old to remain sidelined indefinitely by his state.

Adam Zampa is viewed in a similar vein by CA and the squeeze will be on South Australia to give the ODI leg-spinner a sustained run at first-class cricket as well this season.

Cricket Australia holds the power to dictate state selections if they feel it’s in the national interest, and in exceptional circumstances they could even ensure an out of favour player’s immediate release and transfer to another team.

It’s understood such strongarm measures won’t be necessary, and although CA is keeping a close watch on the situation, there’s an expectation Maxwell will be running out against Queensland next week at the MCG.

media_camera Victoria’s Glenn Maxwell on the sidelines after being dropped to 12th man for the Sheffield Shield match against Tasmania.

But following Maxwell’s shock axing for the season-opening Shield clash against Tasmania, there is now undeniable angst between Victoria and one of the game’s great entertainers which despite the Bushrangers’ denials, all appears to stem from his failed move to defect to NSW in the pre-season.

Whether benching Maxwell for a match was Victoria’s way of sending a shot across his bow or not — one way or another, it almost certainly won’t be allowed to happen again.

Australia doesn’t disagree with Victoria wanting to hold Maxwell to high standards — they’ve done the same thing in recent times by dropping him from the ODI side.

But with no disciplinary issues to speak of, Victoria’s justification that Maxwell had a poor Matador Cup and didn’t fit the “balance” of their Shield side won’t hold water on an ongoing basis as far as CA is concerned.

Maxwell might be experiencing a run of outs with national selectors at the moment, but that doesn’t mean a line has been put through his name.

In fact quite the opposite.

Selectors have noted the way Maxwell sweeps against the spinners and is suited to subcontinental conditions with both bat and ball — not to mention his outstanding fielding ability, a missing ingredient of late in the Test side. Australia’s middle-to-lower order batting depth was exposed against Sri Lanka and Maxwell is seen as a potential solution to the problem.

With a first-class average of 41.03 — comparable with the top batsmen in the country — Test great Mike Hussey can see why Australia are making Maxwell a priority case for India.

“He’s got the game to do it in first-class cricket and in India,” Hussey told The Daily Telegraph.

“His record in first-class cricket is pretty good.

“You don’t know what’s going on behind closed doors — it’s unusual for a short form Australian player not to be playing (Shield).

“He’s certainly got the ability, no question and from CA’s point of view they need him playing Shield cricket and putting consistent performances on the board and it’s hard to do that when you’re not in the team. Hopefully he can put some consistent performances together.”

Nathan Lyon is the No. 1 spinner, but Australia are desperate for other slow bowling options and Zampa is another man they want to be given more experience by his state.

Originally published as CA ultimatum: Don’t drop Maxwell again