Glenn Maxwell has played in the County Championship before, for Hampshire in 2014, for Yorkshire in 2015, and for Lancashire in 2019. His only hundred, a 144-ball 140, came for Yorkshire, while for Lancashire he claimed 5-40 and 4-41 in consecutive innings.

Now, on his debut for Warwickshire, he bowled five wicketless overs as Oliver Hannon-Dalby (4-56) and Henry Brookes (3-55) reduced Kent to 95-8 before Grant Stewart lifted them to 171.

Warwickshire were 225-5 when Maxwell joined Rob Yates at the crease. He exploded in spectacular fashion, smashing 10 fours and two sixes en route to a 67-ball 81 out of a 124-run partnership in 137 balls.

Warwickshire eventually declared on 549-7, Yates having batted through the innings with an unbeaten 228.

Chris Rushworth then took out Tawanda Muyeye, but Ben Compton and Joe Denly ensured Kent finished day two on 55-1. They need to make another 323 to make Warwickshire bat again. Maxwell is yet to bowl.

Australia had taken a 2-0 lead in the ongoing Ashes, but England kept the series alive with a win at Headingley. David Warner has struggled for runs, while Pat Cummins showed little faith in Todd Murphy, Nathan Lyon’s replacement off-spinner.

Additionally, they may want to play both Cam Green, their first-choice all-rounder, and Mitchell Marsh, who had an outstanding Test match filling in for the injured Green. For that, they may go in without a specialist spinner at Old Trafford.

Maxwell’s first-class numbers – 4,066 runs at 39, 77 wickets at 41 – are quite ordinary, and he played the last of his seven Test matches (all of which were in Asia) in 2017. Yet, if Australia do need a hard-hitting batter who can bowl off-breaks, he does fit the bill.

It is perhaps a far-fetched call, but not impossible. After all, not many expected Marsh to play in this series either.

Watch Glenn Maxwell smash 81 in 67 balls on Warwickshire debut:

81 off 67 balls on Warwickshire Championship debut for Glenn Maxwell 💥

10 fours and 2 sixes in his blistering innings.pic.twitter.com/hehkd6MrHD

— Wisden (@WisdenCricket) July 11, 2023