Maxwell and Boland set to play in One-Day Cup for Victoria

Just five days after being part of the ETPL final, Maxwell will feature in the first floodlit match at Junction Oval

Glenn Maxwell is a surprise inclusion in Victoria's One-Day Cup side to face New South Wales, just five days after being part of the ETPL final in Dublin, while Test bowler Scott Boland is also set to feature in Friday's clash which will be the first floodlit match at the Junction Oval under the newly installed lights.

Maxwell's inclusion is eye-catching given he retired from ODIs in early 2025 and also does not hold a contract with Victoria or Cricket Australia. He was dropped off CA's central list earlier this year given he is only notionally available for T20Is, although he has not formally retired from Test cricket, and Australia only have five T20Is in the 2026-27 contract year. He was not selected for Australia's most recent T20I series in Bangladesh in June.

But he had spoken to Victoria earlier in the winter about being available for the One-Day Cup if required and just five days after captaining Belfast Wolves in the ETPL final, he will play for Victoria against NSW in Melbourne.RelatedMaxwell open to playing for Victoria when available despite ODI retirement

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He will be joined by Boland who will get one hit out before flying to South Africa on Sunday as part of Australia's Test squad after missing Victoria's extraordinary win over Queensland in Brisbane in their opening game of the season last Friday.

"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," Victoria coach Chris Rogers said.

"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.

"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."Scott Boland will get an outing before heading to South Africa•Getty Images

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.

"I think we'll take it as a match by match situation," Rogers said. "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."

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.

"We're building a squad that can win from anywhere," he said. "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."