Maxwell, Boland named in Victoria squad for One-Day Cup

Just five days after playing in the ETPL final in Dublin, Glenn Maxwell has been included in Victoria's One-Day Cup team to play New South Wales. Test bowler Scott Boland is also expected to play in Friday's match, which will be the first floodlit match at the Junction Oval under the newly installed lights.

Due to Maxwell's early 2025 retirement from ODIs and the fact that he does not have a contract with Cricket Australia or Victoria, his inclusion is notable. He was dropped off CA's central list earlier this year given he is only notionally available for T20Is, although he has not formally retired from Test cricket, and Australia only have five T20Is in the 2026-27 contract year. He was not selected for Australia's most recent T20I series in Bangladesh in June.

However, he had discussed his availability for the One-Day Cup with Victoria earlier in the winter, and just five days after serving as captain of Belfast Wolves in the ETPL final, he will play for Victoria against NSW in Melbourne.

He will be joined by Boland, who will get one hit out before flying to South Africa on Sunday to be a part of Australia's Test squad. Boland missed Victoria's incredible win over Queensland in Brisbane last Friday, which was their season's first game.

Victoria coach Chris Rogers stated, "They're influencing our squad any time that those guys can come in and help us, and from a point of view of what the other developing players are going to see as well."

"However, in addition to their performance, when those two join us, they will lift us as a team. So it's exciting for that. especially after such a successful victory. I believe that it inspires them to participate as well. I think it will be fantastic.

On the eve of the AFL Grand Final, what a fantastic game played under lights. You would hope that there will be a lot of interest, and that people will want to attend and watch some of the best players in the world play."

After retiring from ODI cricket, Maxwell did play for Victoria in two One-Day Cup matches in September, where he scored his first List A century. But he was still a CA contracted player at that point and those matches were used as a lead-in to a three-match T20I tour of New Zealand.

Between now and the BBL, Victoria only has four One-Day Cup games: September 25, October 12, October 24, and November 16. It is unknown whether Maxwell will play more of those games.

Rogers stated, "I think we'll take it as a match by match situation." "The other thing is that trying to fit everyone in when the Australia A players return will be a real challenge for us. Additionally, I am aware that we will be required to make some decisions that will frustrate individuals along the way, but I believe we will just accept them for the upcoming match."

Victoria are currently missing Peter Handscomb, Sam Harper, Campbell Kellaway, Todd Murphy and Fergus O'Neill with the Australia A squad in India while Ollie Peake is with Australia's ODI squad in South Africa. All but Murphy will return for the match on October 12, with the offspinner remaining with Australia A in India for three one-day matches on October 11 and 12.

Rogers was pleased with his young team's performance in Brisbane last week, where they chased down 336 after being reduced to 14 for 4 due to the stunning hundreds of debutant Liam Blackford and captain Will Sutherland. Despite the absence of all those players, Rogers was pleased with his team's performance.

"We're building a squad that can win from anywhere," he said. "You should be proud of that. We're seeing the development of a number of our players who are vying for a spot in the team, and I'm not sure if we would have been able to accomplish that a few seasons ago. Also, it's amazing to see someone like Liam Blackford pitch that first inning.

It was more than just him. I believe Harry Hoekstra and Doug Warren made their debuts, making them three of our four best players, which is remarkable in and of itself. It goes to show that our program is good, and the talent that's coming through the system is good as well."