Glenn Maxwell and Scott Boland are both included in Victoria's side to face New South Wales on Friday in the first floodlit match at the Junction Oval.
Glenn Maxwell has been named in Victoria's One-Day Cup squad to face New South Wales in Melbourne on Friday, September 25, just five days after captaining Belfast Wolves in the ETPL final in Dublin. Test bowler Scott Boland is also included in the side for what will be the first floodlit match at the Junction Oval under its newly installed lights.
Maxwell did play two One-Day Cup matches for Victoria last September after retiring from ODI cricket, including making his first List A century for his state. 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. Victoria only have four One-Day Cup matches between now and the BBL - on September 25, October 12, October 24 and November 16 - and whether Maxwell plays more remains to be seen.
"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, they're influencing our squad. But then their performance as well, when we get those two in they're going to lift us as a team. So it's exciting for that. Especially when you come off such a good win. I think that it makes them want to be a part of it as well. I think it's going to be great," said Victoria coach Chris Rogers as quoted by Cricinfo.
"And what a game under lights on the eve of the AFL Grand Final. You'd like to think that there's going to be quite a bit of interest, and people are going to want to come and watch it and watch some of the best players in the world," he added.
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 bar Murphy will be back for the October 12 clash with the offspinner remaining in India with Australia A for three one-day matches that finish on October 11. With all those players missing, Rogers was thrilled with the performance of his young side in Brisbane last week when they chased down 336 after being reduced to 14 for 4 thanks to stunning hundreds from debutant Liam Blackford and captain Will Sutherland.
Maxwell's selection is notable given he retired from ODIs in early 2025 and currently holds no contract with Victoria or Cricket Australia. He was removed from CA's central contract list earlier this year because he is only notionally available for T20Is, and Australia have just five T20Is scheduled in the 2026-27 contract year. He was not selected for Australia's most recent T20I series in Bangladesh in June. However, Maxwell had spoken to Victoria during the winter about being available for the One-Day Cup if required, and the state have now called on him for Friday's fixture.
Boland's appearance will serve as a warm-up before he flies to South Africa on Sunday as part of Australia's Test squad. He missed Victoria's opening One-Day Cup match of the season, an extraordinary win over Queensland in Brisbane last Friday, in which the side chased down 336 after being reduced to 14 for 4, with centuries from debutant Liam Blackford and captain Will Sutherland.
"I think we'll take it as a match by match situation. The other thing is, when we have the Australia A players come back, trying to fit everyone in is going to be a real challenge for us. And I know we're going to have to make some calls that are going to frustrate people along the way, but I think we'll just take it for the next match at the moment," said Rogers.
Despite the absentees, Rogers was encouraged by the depth shown in Brisbane. Three debutants, Liam Blackford, Harry Hoekstra and Doug Warren, featured prominently in the win over Queensland.
"We're building a squad that can win from anywhere. That's something to be proud of. I'm not sure we necessarily would have been able to do that a couple of seasons ago, but we're seeing the growth of a number of our players who are pushing to get into the side. And when you see someone like Liam Blackford who plays that innings on debut, that's incredible. It wasn't just him. I think we had Harry Hoekstra and Doug Warren playing their debuts, and you'd argue they were three of our four best players, so that's incredible in itself. It goes to show that our program is good, and the talent that's coming through the system is good as well," said Rogers.