Maxwell and Boland Return for Victoria's Historic Night Clash

Dr. Annelies De Vos · 2026-09-23

### Glenn Maxwell and Scott Boland Back in Victoria's Squad for Historic Day-Night Clash Glenn Maxwell is set to make a surprise return to Victoria's One-Day Cup squad for their clash against New South Wales. The match, scheduled for Friday, will be the first-ever day-night game at the Junction Oval under newly installed lights. Just five days after captaining the Belfast Wolves in the ETPL final in Dublin, Maxwell will don the Victorian colors again. His inclusion is unexpected, given he retired from ODI cricket earlier this year and holds no contract with Victoria or Cricket Australia. But his love for the game and desire to contribute have opened this door. Scott Boland, the reliable Test bowler, will also play in this match. It's a quick stop for him before he flies to South Africa on Sunday to join Australia's Test squad. Boland missed Victoria's opening win over Queensland last week, so this outing serves as valuable match practice. ### Maxwell's Return Without a Contract Maxwell's selection is particularly noteworthy because he's not contracted to Cricket Australia or Victoria. He was removed from CA's central contract list earlier this year, though he hasn't formally retired from Test cricket. His availability for T20Is is limited, and with only five T20Is scheduled in the 2026-27 contract year, his international future is uncertain. Despite this, Maxwell had discussions with Victoria about playing in the One-Day Cup. Those talks have now materialized into a spot in the squad. This isn't his first appearance since retiring from ODIs; he played two One-Day Cup matches last September, scoring his maiden List A century for Victoria. Victoria has four more One-Day Cup fixtures before the BBL begins, but coach Chris Rogers hasn't confirmed if Maxwell will play beyond Friday. ### Boland's Brief Stint Before Test Duty Scott Boland will get one game with Victoria before joining the Test squad in South Africa. His presence is a boost for the team, especially for the younger players who can learn from his experience. Coach Rogers highlighted the value of having contracted players like Boland around. "They set an example for the developing players," he said. The timing of the match, on the eve of the AFL Grand Final, should draw a big crowd, especially with stars like Maxwell and Boland on show. ### Squad Depth Tested by National Commitments Victoria is currently missing several key players due to national duties. Peter Handscomb, Sam Harper, Campbell Kellaway, Todd Murphy, and Fergus O'Neill are all with the Australia A squad in India. Ollie Peake is with Australia's ODI squad in South Africa. Most of them, except Murphy, are expected back for the October 12 match. Murphy will stay with Australia A for three one-day games ending on October 11. Rogers admitted that reintegrating all contracted players will be a challenge as the season goes on. He also praised the younger players for their performance in the win over Queensland, where Victoria chased down 336 after being 14 for 4. Debutant centuries from Liam Blackford and captain Will Sutherland led the charge. Rogers believes the depth shown by uncapped players is a positive sign for Victoria's program. > "The way the young guys stood up under pressure shows the strength of our system," Rogers said. ### What This Means for Victoria's Season With a mix of experienced campaigners and emerging talents, Victoria looks well-equipped for the remainder of the One-Day Cup. The return of Maxwell and Boland adds star power and experience, while the young players have already proven they can compete at this level. Fans should mark their calendars for Friday's historic day-night match. It's not just about the result; it's about celebrating cricket under lights at the iconic Junction Oval. For more cricket news and updates, stay tuned to our blog.