Glenn Maxwell endured a torrid BBL campaign but Ricky Ponting sees the T20 World Cup as a perfect stage for Australia’s X-factor star to find top gear

Australian cricket legend Ricky Ponting has backed star allrounder Glenn Maxwell to flick a switch and bounce out of his form slump at the T20 World Cup.

Maxwell has been sidelined for the three-match T20 series against Pakistan due to workload management on the back of a horror BBL campaign.

He will join the Australian squad in Sri Lanka ahead of the team’s World Cup opener against Ireland on February 11.

Maxwell contributed only 76 runs at 15.20 across 11 matches for the Melbourne Stars, including just two scores in double figures.

The 37-year-old also took just two wickets at an average of 69.50, and even uncharacteristically dropped catches in the field.

But Ponting said Maxwell’s experience, spin-friendly conditions and “soft” early opposition could play into the power-hitter’s hands, as he attempts to rekindle his best form on the global stage.

Art of the run chase: Maxwell’s tactics for reaching the target

“He can because he always has,” Ponting said.

“I’ve coached him a lot and he’s a really hard player to read what’s going to happen because he can have a week of the best training you’ve ever seen and then come out and it not happen.

“And he could have the world’s worst week leading into a game and come out and do something crazy.”

Ponting also warned age could be a hurdle for Maxwell, who featured in Australia’s only T20 World Cup victory in 2021.

“If the edge starts to come off, it’s hard to find it and replace it,” he said.

“But if anything’s going to bring it out of him, a World Cup will.

“He’s had some pretty amazing moments in World Cups in the past and hopefully for Australia’s sake he can have a few more over the next few weeks.”

Despite his lead-up form, Ponting expects Maxwell will be picked in Australia’s team for the opener against Ireland in Colombo.

They also face Zimbabwe, co-hosts Sri Lanka and Oman in Group B.

“You couldn’t pick him on form at the moment because of what everyone else in that squad has done through the BBL,” Ponting said.

“But they’ll pick him because of his experience and probably because of the conditions as well.

“He’s probably going to be facing a lot of spin bowling and he’ll give the option to be able to bowl some as well.

“They’ve got some pretty easy games and that might be just exactly what he needs to get himself into some touch.

“A bit of soft opposition early on and some runs and wickets under his belt, that might hold him in good stead for the back half.”

Ponting also backed red-hot veteran Steve Smith as a walk-up replacement if any of Australia’s batters are injured before the World Cup.

Smith smashed 299 runs at an average of 59.80 in six BBL matches following the Ashes series, including two fifties and one century in a “ridiculous” patch of form.

“His numbers stack up better than anybody else’s,” Ponting said.

“But when you’ve been out and the side’s had some success, and Travis Head and Mitch Marsh are the incumbents, it’s hard to push one of those two guys out of an opening slot,” Ponting said.

“And poor Steve has probably been pigeon-holed as an opening batsman only in the T20 game, which probably has held him back a little bit in the last few years as far as selection is concerned.

“But he’s only one little injury away. He’s the next cab off the rank and he’s ready to go.”

2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup

Australia squad: Mitchell Marsh (c), Xavier Bartlett, Cooper Connolly, Pat Cummins, Tim David, Cameron Green, Nathan Ellis, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Matthew Kuhnemann, Glenn Maxwell, Matthew Short, Marcus Stoinis, Adam Zampa

Australia’s Group Stage fixtures

February 11: v Ireland, R.Premadasa Stadium, Colombo (8:30pm AEDT)

February 13: v Zimbabwe, R.Premadasa Stadium, Colombo (4:30pm AEDT)

February 16: v Sri Lanka, Pallekele International Stadium, Kandy (Feb 17, 12:30am AEDT)

February 20: v Oman, Pallekele International Stadium, Kandy (Feb 21, 12:30am AEDT)

Australia’s Super Eight fixtures

(Assuming all seeded teams qualify)

February 23: Australia (X2) v West Indies (X3), Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai (Feb 24, 12:30am AEDT)

February 26: India (X1) v Australia (X2), MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai (Feb 27, 12:30am AEDT)

March 1: Australia (X2) v South Africa (X4), Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi, 8:30pm AEDT

Click here for the full tournament schedule

All matches will be broadcast on Amazon’s Prime Video