Australia to take late call on Glenn Maxwell for World Cup clash with Bangladesh | Cricket News

NEW DELHI: Australia are yet to make a final decision on Glenn Maxwell‘s availability for their upcoming World Cup match against Bangladesh in Pune on Saturday.
The all-rounder displayed incredible resilience by batting through severe cramps, including in his calf, shin, hamstring, and toes, as well as experiencing back spasms during the thrilling victory over Afghanistan in Mumbai on Tuesday.
Despite Maxwell’s remarkable double-century that secured Australia’s place in the semi-finals against South Africa, the team is carefully considering his physical condition before confirming his participation in the upcoming match.
Bowling coach Daniel Vettori shared this information on Friday, highlighting the uncertainty surrounding Maxwell’s fitness for the crucial game against Bangladesh.
“He’s definitely been in full recovery mode the last few days. We all saw the effects of the innings and in particular the heat. So I think today’s a big day, see how he pulls up,” Vettori told reporters before Saturday’s pool game in Pune.
“Obviously we’ve had a couple of days off so there’s been no training. He’s not here today but we’ll just see how he feels as the day continues. It’s obviously been pretty hectic for him the last few days.”
Vettori stated that Glenn Maxwell, who had previously achieved a remarkable 40-ball century against the Netherlands in the tournament, won’t undergo a fitness test ahead of the Bangladesh game.
The decision not to subject Maxwell to a fitness assessment indicates a cautious approach by the team management, possibly taking into consideration his recent struggles with cramps and back spasms.
“It’ll be how he feels,” Vettori added. “We understand now that the semi-final is pretty definitive in Kolkata on Nov. 16 it’ll be a build towards that.
“He does have a track record of being able to bounce back pretty quickly even with some time away from the game. So it’ll depend on how the day goes… Being a day game probably means tonight they’ll make the call.”
Bangladesh, having missed out on semi-final contention, enter the upcoming match with the aim of securing a victory to solidify their position in the top eight and qualify for the 2025 Champions Trophy in Pakistan.
Despite their awareness of the challenge that lies ahead, coach Chandika Hathurusinghe and the Bangladesh team are determined to finish the tournament on a positive note by earning a coveted spot in the Champions Trophy.
“They (Australia) are the most successful team in World Cup history,” said Hathurusinghe, whose side are currently eighth in the table. “They’re a good team, very professionally prepared and playing good cricket.
“They started slowly but qualified (for the semi-finals). So yeah, playing against them is a big challenge.”

Bangladesh will be without skipper Shakib Al Hasan, who was replaced by Anamul Haque Bijoy in the squad after fracturing his finger during their win over Sri Lanka last time out.
“When you have someone of Shakib’s calibre, the number one all-rounder, it’s two players in one so it’s hard to do much with the combination,” Hathurusinghe said.
“So we’ll definitely want to fill the bowling vacuum with another spinner or fast bowler. It’s his batting we’re going to miss and his leadership.”
(With Reuters inputs)