‘It didn’t sound good’: Maxwell suffers another freakish injury, breaks arm at training

Glenn Maxwell has suffered a broken arm in the lead-up to Australia’s Twenty20 series in New Zealand that will cost him a place in the high-profile home matches against India.

Maxwell was struck on the right wrist by a ball hit by teammate Mitch Owen during training on Monday, ahead of the three-game series that starts in Mt Maunganui on Wednesday.

Fellow teammate Matt Short said he saw the incident out of the corner of his eye.

“We’re training under a marquee, so it’s really echo-y and loud,” Short told Cricket Australia.

“I saw [Mitch Owen] smoked it and then the aftermath – it hit Maxi on the wrist. It didn’t sound good. [Owen] is not the guy you want to be bowling to in T20 training, that’s for sure.

“Maxi’s been there and gone through that a couple of times now – he was a bit disappointed but it’s just like any other injury. I’m sure he’ll get through it.”

X-rays showed that Maxwell had sustained a fractured forearm from the blow, forcing him to make an early return home where he will consult specialists.

Josh Philippe, who recently played for Australia A in their series in India, has been called up to replace Maxwell in the squad.

Maxwell, who retired from ODI matches earlier this year, would have been in line to play in the five-match T20 series at home against India in October and November, and is also a mainstay of the Melbourne Stars Big Bash League side.

Though there is an Ashes series to follow, the India matches are arguably the most important games of the season so far as CA’s battling balance sheet is concerned.

A wrist and forearm injury is also going to be a testing one for Maxwell, given how much of his batting power comes from the snap he generates with his wrists through impact on the ball.

Maxwell has an unfortunate history of freakish injuries. In late 2022 he suffered a badly broken leg when he was tackled by a friend at a birthday party and missed the bulk of the summer.

And the following year at the ODI World Cup, Maxwell missed a game against England due to a concussion suffered when he fell off a golf cart at the end of a day on the course in between matches.

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When Maxwell returned, he had to battle full-body cramps while making a memorable unbeaten 201 to help beat Afghanistan and ensure Australia’s path to the semi-finals of a tournament they ultimately won.

Australia contest the T20 World Cup in India in February and March next year.

More to come

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