National Selector Mark Waugh has questioned Glenn Maxwell's absence from Victoria's Sheffield Shield side, saying the allrounder deserves a place in the team.

Maxwell was surprisingly named 12th man for Victoria's opening-round Shield win over Tasmania last week, despite scoring 392 runs at 56.00 for the Bushrangers last summer.

The Vics instead opted for Peter Handscomb, Aaron Finch, Matthew Wade, Cameron White and Daniel Christian in their middle to lower order, with Maxwell's inconsistent Matador BBQs One-Day Cup campaign counting against him at selection.

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The 28-year-old has been named in an extended 13-man squad for the clash against Queensland, starting tomorrow, but Waugh conceded it will be difficult for him to break back into the XI given the Vics made a winning start to the season.

"He should have been playing," Waugh, one of four national selectors, told Fox Sports' Inside Cricket.

"He's definitely in the best 11 players in Victoria. From an Australian point of view, he's quite capable of playing Test match cricket.

"You need to be asking the Victorian selectors why they left him out. It surely can't be cricket-related because he would be in the team.

"The problem is, they have come out and won the game. It will be tough for him to get back in. He should be in that team. His record is far better than most of the players in the team."

Former Test captain Allan Border questioned whether there was any lingering resentment about Maxwell's unsuccessful attempt to move to NSW before the start of the domestic season.

"It's got to be something more than form or talent or skills or potential," Border said. "I don't think he'll move now but if I were him, I'd be looking elsewhere pretty soon."

Maxi's switch blitz a mixed bag

Making Maxwell's task of breaking back into the side even more difficult is the return to fitness of star Vics allrounder and middle-order batsman Marcus Stoinis, who missed the season opener with a neck injury. Stoinis has been named in the 13-man squad for the match against the Bulls at the MCG, along with leg-spinner Fawad Ahmed, who replaces Test quick Peter Siddle.

Handscomb praised Maxwell for his response to being dropped, and said the entire side was under pressure to hold their spot given the talent on the sidelines.

"It's completely different cricket but it's not my decision to make the final call," Handscomb said of the decision to drop Maxwell based partly on his recent one-day form.

"Obviously the last red-ball game he played was last year so what form can you go on? Do you go on that one or do you go on the most recent way you've seen him?"

"We're all under pressure. We've got an amazing squad ... and there are guys waiting like Glenn Maxwell and Rob Quiney, who's also played for Australia.

"He took (his axing) really well, he's been great around the group and he's doing all the right things.

"He's looking really good in the nets and he's bowling really well, so we'll wait and see."

Victoria: Matthew Wade (c), Fawad Ahmed, Scott Boland, Dan Christian, Travis Dean, Aaron Finch, Peter Handscomb, Marcus Harris, Jon Holland, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Chris Tremain, Cameron White (12th man to be named).

Queensland: Chris Hartley (c), Joe Burns, Ben Cutting, Luke Feldman, Peter Forrest, Peter George, Sam Heazlett, Charlie Hemphrey, Marnus Labuschagne, Michael Neser, Mitch Swepson, Jack Wildermuth (12th man to be named).