Maxwell sidelined for England game after freak fall-induced concussion

Glenn Maxwell will be absent from Australia’s upcoming World Cup match against England in Ahmedabad due to a concussion he sustained in an unexpected accident. On Monday, October 30, he slipped and fell off the back of a golf cart. Fortunately, Maxwell did not suffer any other significant injuries, but he is now in concussion protocols, rendering him unavailable for the match on Saturday, November 4. However, it is anticipated that he will recover in time to participate in the next match against Afghanistan and for the remainder of the tournament.

Head coach Andrew McDonald disclosed the details of this “unfortunate accident,” which occurred around 6.30 pm at the conclusion of the Australian team’s “golf day.” During the short ride back from the clubhouse to the team bus, Maxwell fell off the back of a cart, resulting in a minor concussion. As a result, he will undergo a concussion protocol for the following six to eight days, ruling him out of the England game. McDonald clarified that no replacement would be required for Maxwell, as there are alternative players like Marcus Stoinis and Cameron Green available.

The accident happened as the players used golf carts to return to the team bus after staying for speeches at a clubhouse, which was a bit farther from the main area. While the distance covered was only around 300 meters, not all players and staff had enough carts to sit in, leading to some of them, including Maxwell, standing on the back. Maxwell’s accident was purely accidental, with no inappropriate behavior involved.

Maxwell was seen walking around the team hotel on Wednesday, November 1, and is reportedly recovering well despite a minor gash on his forehead. The head coach emphasized that it was a straightforward accident, and there should be no long-term consequences. Maxwell is expected to resume light training from later that Wednesday.

McDonald commended Maxwell for his honesty in reporting his symptoms and emphasized the importance of adhering to concussion return-to-play protocols. With Maxwell missing the England match, Marnus Labuschagne is likely to retain his spot in the team, and Travis Head may play a more prominent role with his off-spin bowling alongside Labuschagne, who has been working on his leg-spin and off-spin during training.

Despite the golf-related injuries to Australian players, there are no plans to cancel future golf activities, as they are considered important for team bonding and balance during extended periods on the road. McDonald emphasized the need to strike a balance and pointed out that the accidents were unfortunate but isolated incidents.