Cricket Australia confirmed on Tuesday morning that the 36-year-old allrounder will miss the trans-Tasman series, with wicketkeeper-batter Josh Philippe called in as his replacement.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Maxwell was struck on the wrist while bowling in the nets to big-hitting allrounder Mitchell Owen at Tauranga\u2019s Bay Oval. The blow fractured his forearm, forcing him out of the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy T20s, which begin Wednesday. He will return home for a specialist review to determine the timeline for his comeback.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Recalled allrounder Matthew Short, batting in an adjoining net at the time, recounted the incident: \u201cI saw it out of the corner of my eye. We\u2019re training under a marquee, so it\u2019s really echo-y and loud. I saw (Owen) smoked it and then the aftermath \u2013 it hit Maxi on the wrist. It didn\u2019t sound good. (Owen) is not the guy you want to be bowling to in T20 training, that\u2019s for sure. Maxi\u2019s been there and gone through that (serious injuries) a couple of times now \u2013 he was a bit disappointed but it\u2019s just like any other injury. I\u2019m sure he\u2019ll get through it.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
It is another untimely setback for Maxwell, who fractured his leg in a freak accident at a birthday party three years ago and was also concussed during the 2023 World Cup after falling from a golf cart. He had started this domestic summer brightly, smashing a 73-ball century for Victoria in the One-Day Cup and an unbeaten 62 off 36 balls in Australia\u2019s most recent T20I against South Africa.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Marcus Stoinis, who returns to the T20 squad after nearly a year, acknowledged the importance of these games in building towards next year\u2019s T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka: \u201cIt\u2019s probably the start of that. I\u2019m sure there\u2019s a picture in the head of the selectors of what they want to do and how they want the team lining up come that World Cup, so I think it\u2019s going to be a nice build in for everyone. It\u2019s always a good challenge (playing New Zealand). They\u2019re a great team and they perform so well in the big tournaments as well, so it\u2019s definitely something we look forward to.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Philippe, who replaces Maxwell, comes into the squad in fine touch after recent Australia A performances, including a 123 not out and a half-century in India earlier this month. The 28-year-old, who has 12 T20Is to his name, last featured for Australia in December 2023.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Maxwell\u2019s absence adds to a growing list of unavailable stars. Josh Inglis was earlier ruled out with a calf strain, replaced by Alex Carey. Pat Cummins is sitting out to rehabilitate a back issue, Mitchell Starc has retired from T20 internationals, and Cameron Green is playing Sheffield Shield cricket to focus on his return to bowling before the Ashes.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The T20 series against New Zealand begins on October 1 at Bay Oval, with subsequent matches on October 3 and 4 at the same venue.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Maxwell\u2019s absence adds to a growing list of unavailable stars. Josh Inglis was earlier ruled out with a calf strain, replaced by Alex Carey. Pat Cummins is sitting out to rehabilitate a back issue, Mitchell Starc has retired from T20 internationals, and Cameron Green is playing Sheffield Shield cricket to focus on his return to bowling before the Ashes.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Australia squad: Mitchell Marsh (c), Sean Abbott, Xavier Bartlett, Alex Carey, Tim David, Ben Dwarshuis, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Matt Kuhnemann, Mitchell Owen, Josh Philippe, Matthew Short, Marcus Stoinis, Adam Zampa<\/p>\r\n\r\n