Maxwell loses place in ODI squad as Lynn bolts in

Sydney [Australia], Jan 3 (ANI): Feisty batsman Glenn Maxwell was left out of Australia's 14-man squad against England for the upcoming Gillette ODI Series.

"No-one is in any doubt about Glenn's ability or his potential to produce match-winning contributions with the bat," national selector Trevor Hohns said in a statement to cricket.com.au.

Maxwell's exclusion does raise some questions as the 29-year-old has been in career-best form in domestic cricket and the Big Bash League (BBL).

The all-rounder entered the BBL break of the JLT Sheffield Shield as the competition's highest run-scorer with 590 runs at 73.35, including a staggering 278 against NSW Blues at North Sydney Oval.

However, Maxwell's ODI form has been inconsistent in the last one year.

"What we have wanted from him is more consistency but in his past 20 matches in this format he has averaged 22 and we need more than that from a player in the side's batting engine room," Hohns added.

"Glenn is still absolutely in our thoughts but for this series we have decided to look again at Chris Lynn, who is now back playing once more after the shoulder injury that hampered him when we picked him against Pakistan in this format 12 months ago," the national selector concluded.

Lynn has played just three BBL matches since returning from shoulder surgery, but seemed in good touch, smashing 63* from 46 balls opening the batting for the Heat against Melbourne Stars.

Hohns also said that the selection panel has picked this squad with the 2019 World Cup in mind as Australia aim to defend the title they won three years ago.

Australia squad: Steve Smith (c), David Warner (vc), Pat Cummins, Aaron Finch, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Chris Lynn, Mitchell Marsh, Tim Paine, Jhye Richardson, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, Andrew Tye, Adam Zampa (ANI)