Glenn Maxwell reckons his temporary promotion to opener against the West Indies is just that – temporary – with Travis Head poised to reclaim the role when South Africa arrive in August. The all-rounder, usually slotted at No. 4, says Australia are simply testing combinations before the 2026 T20 World Cup.
Maxwell started this series at No. 5 to give Cameron Green a look at second drop, then jumped to the top for games two and three when Tim David returned from injury and both Head (rested) and back-up opener Matthew Short (side strain) were missing. The theory was simple: expect spin in the powerplay, put Maxwell – one of Australia’s best spin hitters – out early. It made sense in Jamaica; once the action moved to the compact Warner Park in St Kitts, seam dominated instead.
Even so, the Victorian’s cameo scores of 12 (10), 20 (7) and 47 (18) carried menace, underlining why selectors like the option. Maxwell, though, is not reading much into it.
“It’s been great fun being at the top, but I’m sure I’m just warming Heady’s seat until he comes back,” Maxwell said. “I think the way we’re probably going to set up our T20 side heading forward is you’ve got Travis up the top, you’ve got Mitch Marsh who is captaining us brilliantly at the moment.
“Ingo is doing a great job at No.3 and the rest of the order falls into place around that. We’ve got some unbelievable power hitting at the moment, we’ve seen some guys really put their hand up – Tim David, Mitch Owen and Cameron Green – throughout the middle.
“They’re three pretty big blokes with big reach and they hit the ball an absolute mile so it’s great to have those guys with that extra bit of power in the middle-order.
“It’s not something we’ve had an abundance of over the years and to have that at our disposal at the moment is pretty exciting.”
Green’s promotion has been the other notable tweak. The tall all-rounder has looked settled at No. 4, handling quicks in the powerplay and spinners later on. David, granted a rare chance to bat inside the first six overs, responded with a hundred, further muddling – or enriching – the selection puzzle.
Maxwell’s own numbers illustrate the juggling act. Four T20I centuries have come from No. 4, yet his domestic purple patch last summer arrived from No. 6: match-winning knocks of 20 off 10, 58 off 32, and 90 off 52 for the Melbourne Stars, followed by 76* off 32 at No. 5. A lean IPL with Punjab Kings was soon forgotten when he peeled an unbeaten 106 off 49 for Washington Freedom in MLC, again from No. 6. The evidence suggests he can slot almost anywhere.
For head coach Andrew McDonald and the panel, that flexibility is a luxury rather than a headache. Green’s rise means Maxwell could float, David might settle at five, and Marcus Stoinis or Matthew Wade (once back fit) can take the finishing overs. The balance could still shift once Head returns; his left-hand option at the top allows right-handers Marsh and Inglis to follow, complicating match-ups for opposing captains.
“It’s been great to see the growth of some of the guys and Greeny in this series,” Maxwell added, hinting that the experimentation is far from over.
A settled XI is unlikely to be named before the home summer ends, but the broad shape is emerging: Head and Marsh to open, Inglis at three, Green and David in the engine room, and Maxwell floating according to conditions. All six can bowl in some capacity; all six clear the ropes. Australia have rarely enjoyed that sort of depth.
For now, Maxwell is happy enough pinching Head’s spot and belting a few in the powerplay. Come August, he expects to be back in the engine room – a role he describes, with a smile, as both familiar and still evolving.
