Maxwell keen to make mark at No.6 in India

Offspinning allrounder Glenn Maxwell says the faith of Australia's cricket selectors has delivered a confidence boost ahead of the Test tour of India.

Glenn Maxwell hopes his subcontinent experience will result in a Test call-up in India, with the offspinning allrounder eyeing the vacant No.6 spot in Australia's order.

Australia are guaranteed to make at least one change to their XI when the much-anticipated four-Test series starts in Pune on February 23.

Hilton Cartwright, who received a baggy green at the SCG last month, is not part of the 16-man touring party.

Cartwright, Mitch Marsh, Nic Maddinson and Callum Ferguson were all trialled at No.6 during the recent home summer.

None of the four nailed down the spot; Marsh is the only one on the list heading to India.

Selectors may yet opt to shore up the middle order with a batsman, subcontinent specialist Shaun Marsh.

The structure of Australia's bowling attack will also shape the selection debate involving Maxwell, Ashton Agar and the brothers Marsh.

"I'd certainly like to be the No.6, in all countries," Maxwell said on Friday.

"It'd be a great position for me to try and nail down and that's something I'm hoping to do, starting in India."

Maxwell made his Test debut in Hyderabad during Australia's shambolic 'homeworkgate' tour of 2013.

The 28-year-old has a stack of Indian Premier League experience, while all three of his Tests have come in Asia.

But Maxwell's numbers in the first half of the 2016-17 Sheffield Shield season were far from impressive.

The Victorian tallied 129 runs from five innings at an average of 25.8, while he claimed a single wicket in 35.3 overs.

"They could've gone with a numbers of blokes instead of me for India," Maxwell said.

"So for them to show that faith in me and know that I've got that experience over there, and know that I play spin bowling well ... it definitely gives you confidence.

"Hopefully I can show selectors that that good faith is warranted."

Maxwell, best known for his audacious strokes and ability to score runs quickly, suggested the secret to subcontinent success was grit.

"It's a place where you've got to work so hard to get your runs," he said.

"You've got to have different strategies at different times of a game. That's probably what I've learned; you can't go in there with just one strategy and stick to it.

"You've got to be able to change your game almost mid-innings.

"Even for the Indian players .... they change all the way through their innings. Hopefully we can do similar stuff."


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Source: AAP



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