Australian coach Darren Lehmann has delivered a blunt wake-up call to loose cannon Glenn Maxwell - make some runs or spend forever in the Test wilderness.
Maxwell on Friday was pilloried by current and former Victorian teammates in the wake of his criticism of Australian one-day teammate and Bushrangers captain Matthew Wade.
Maxwell and Wade will likely be Australian teammates during Sunday's one-day series opener against New Zealand at the SCG, however the relationship between the pair has been strained.
The explosive allrounder said it was "painful" after twice being asked to bat at No.6 and below Wade during Sheffield Shield clashes last month against NSW and Queensland.
Maxwell believed the decision had harmed his chances of being selected for the recent third Test against South Africa, when a broom was put through the side, however Lehmann poured cold water on that, saying he was never in contention.
News that makes sense
Your trusted source for staying up-to-date with the world around you. Get free daily news updates and analysis, straight to your inbox.
"No, because he hasn't made 100 for the last two years. You need to make 100," Lehmann said when asked if Maxwell was ever in selectors' calculations for Adelaide.
"Are you going to pick a bloke that hasn't made 100 for two years?"
Maxwell is set to return to the one-day side after being dropped for limited-overs tours of South Africa and Sri Lanka.
Lehmann said while it was not ideal to have teammates trading barbs before Australia's three-match one-day series against the Black Caps, it wasn't proving a distraction.
"We're obviously disappointed but we'll work through those issues," Lehmann said.
"We're confident they can work together."
Meanwhile, Maxwell's Victorian teammate Rob Quiney has told the allrounder to pull his head in and make some runs.
Bushrangers veteran Quiney, yet to play in the Shield this season, said Maxwell was in no position to have a go at his teammates.
"I think he just needs to lip it and just make some runs," Quiney told EON Sports radio on Friday.
"Victoria are flying at the moment, but he's not setting the world on fire himself. He's actually only batted at six twice so I don't know where this has come from.
"It's good that he's honest. Unfortunately, it's probably not the greatest attitude to have, I reckon."
Victorian opener Marcus Harris backed Wade, saying the side's unbeaten Shield record showed he was making the right choices.
Former Victorian captain Darren Berry suggested Wade might have placed himself higher in the order to boost his own Test selection chances.
But that didn't excuse Maxwell's comments, particularly considering the depth of Victoria's batting line-up.
"That's me, me, me stuff, isn't it?," Berry told SEN Breakfast radio.
"Cameron White's been batting behind him at seven. (He) didn't come out and criticise Matthew Wade. You just don't do it."
