Australian all-rounder Glenn Maxwell returned to competitive cricket months after breaking his left leg in a horrific accident during a friend’s birthday party last year. This resulted in him missing out on the T20 World Cup at home and the ongoing India tour.
Maxwell was yesterday named in Victoria’s Marsh Sheffield Shield squad for their clash with South Australia, marking his return to cricket since last November. However, he had to prove his fitness in Victorian Premier Cricket, which he did with aplomb, crashing two sixes and five fours in his 92-ball 61-run knock.
He was also selected for the Sheffield Shield, Australia’s premier first-class competition, but is not expected to bowl and has to pass a fitness test ahead of Monday’s clash with the Redbacks at Junction Oval.
Speaking about his return to Fox Sports, Glenn Maxwell said: “It’s been a pretty long journey over the last 3 and half months, so a lot of early morning sessions, gym, rehab, pool sessions, physio. To feel like I am at the back-end of that now and able to play some cricket is something I’m proud of,” Maxwell further added on the sidelines of domestic cricket.”
“I think probably 80 per cent. I have a fair bit to go until I am fully fit for a one-day game, which is what I’m working towards. I won’t bowl, I’m still building up my loads and getting that natural body movement muscle memory going,” Maxwell further added.
Maxwell, with his return to competitive cricket, might be in contention for the ODI leg of the India tour.
‘It Just Snapped’: Glenn Maxwell Details Harrowing Leg Injury
It was in November, when Glenn Maxwell had broken his left tibia while slipping while running around the backyard during his friend’s birthday party. This resulted in him being bedridden after undergoing surgery to repair the fracture.
“One of my mates, who was also one of my schoolteachers, we were laughing about something and I pretended to chase him off somewhere. I reckon we both took about three or four steps out there, and both slipped at the same time. I just got my foot stuck a little bit, and he fell, unfortunately at a really bad angle and landed straight on my leg.
It just snapped. I heard and felt every part of it. It was pretty painful. I was screaming a bit and he was like, ‘please tell me you’re joking, please tell me you’re joking’,” Maxwell said on cricket.com.au’s Unplayable Podcast.
“I shattered my fibula. So that one I think was the first snap I heard. It was snapped in half, but it also shattered through the bone. There was a bit of a chip off the tibia as well (and) I ruptured all the ligaments on top of my foot as well … the syndesmosis ligaments, they’re all ruptured. My body is tired and cooked, and the end is probably closer than it should have been at 34,” Maxwell said.