Maxwell set to make return in BBL

SYDNEY: Australia all-rounder Glenn Maxwell, who has been on a break from cricket to deal with his mental heath, is set to make his return in the Big Bash League.

Melbourne Stars confirmed Thursday that Maxwell had joined their pre-season camp and would return to lead their campaign in the ninth season of the tournament. Their first game is against Brisbane Heat on 20 December.

“We’re pleased to see Glenn in green and ready to le­ad our side with a big season ahead,” coach David Hus­sey said.

“He’s an incredib­le talent and a key part of our club but health and well-being comes first and it’s impo­rtant that he’s been able to take some time away to focus on that.”

The team had made it to the final last season, losing out to Melbourne Renegades.

Maxwell had stepped away from the game in October, during Australia’s T20I series against Sri Lanka. He took the first steps towards a comeback earlier this month by training with the Victoria Sheffield Shield squad. He also played for his club in Victorian Premier Cricket.

His decision to focus on his health got considerable support in the cricket world, including from his Australia coach Justin Langer and India captain Virat Kohli, who praised him for opening up about his struggles.

Maxwell, who has three T20 hundreds, is also in the mix for the Indian Premier League auction that will take place on 19 December. With a base price of 2 crore Indian rupees, he’s among the top category of players in the auction.