Glenn Maxwell signs up to play for Washington Freedom in Major League Cricket

Glenn Maxwell vs 78 off 49 against Kolkata Knight Riders, 2021. (Photo Source: BCCI/IPL)

Glenn Maxwell has signed with the Washington Freedom for the upcoming Major League Cricket (MLC) season, joining fellow Australians Steve Smith and Travis Head in the team.

The move comes as Maxwell clarifies that his recent self-omission from the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) squad in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 season was due to poor form.

In an interview with ESPN’s Around the Wicket, Maxwell opened up about his recent move to the MLC with Washington Freedom, where he will play alongside Smith and Head under coach Ricky Ponting.

“It’s a tournament that I watched from afar last year and was extremely excited about hopefully playing this tournament one day and luckily enough the timings have aligned this year. I’ve been speaking to Ricky Ponting and a few other players a fair bit over the last little period and certainly extremely excited to get stuck in,” he said.

Also read: Glenn Maxwell sheds light on stepping aside for SRH clash in Bengaluru

I was pretty low on confidence: Glenn Maxwell

Maxwell, who has struggled for consistency in the ongoing IPL 2024, has scored just 32 runs in six innings for RCB. Ahead of their last match against Sunrisers Hyderabad, he revealed that he has taken an indefinite break from the tournament, citing the need for a mental and physical break.

Maxwell explained that his decision to ask to be dropped from the RCB lineup had nothing to do with requiring an extended break.

“I was pretty low on confidence, I had a good couple of net sessions and just went out to the ground and felt tentative. I wasn’t able to commit to my game plans and just felt like if I had kept playing and playing that role, I don’t think the results would change too much,” he said.

Also read: Ricky Ponting addresses Glenn Maxwell’s decision to step aside from RCB amid poor form

Rather than putting Faf du Plessis and the coaching staff in a difficult position, Maxwell took the initiative to ask to be left out.

“So I just went to Faf and said, look, I think we need to try someone else in my position and had the same conversation with Andy Flower, the coach, and to me, it was a bit of a no-brainer. I think it sort of saves the tough conversation they might have to have about dropping me,” the all-rounder revealed.

On being asked upon his return in the next game against Kolkata Knight Riders on Sunday, “I’ve got a little bit of a hip strain so I’ve got a few more days off and during recovery, So I’ve got a little period here where I’m still training, still trying to get myself right. If there is a spot that becomes available, I’ll put my hand up and take it,” he concluded.