On that January day, Maxwell played at an exhibition golf day before, in the evening, attending The Governor Hindmarsh Hotel where ex-cricket star Brett Lee’s band performed.
The allrounder had been drinking and fell unconscious in the band’s dressing room, prompting an ambulance to be called. He was taken to an emergency department but wasn’t admitted to hospital. Australian selectors had given Maxwell that week off.
“I knew I had that week off,” Maxwell said. “And obviously that incident was less than ideal, and the timing. But I had that week off, I knew I had that week off away from the game.
“And I came back and got back into my running, my gym program and it felt really good and refreshed once I got back. And it’s all been focused on getting myself ready for this [T20] series and what’s to come.
“We know we have got four international games until the [T20] World Cup and how it comes around pretty quick. And I just try to make sure I’m in as good a space that I can be for that tournament.”
Maxwell praised the support of McDonald, chair of selectors George Bailey and cohorts in the aftermath of the incident.
“The coach, Bails, everyone really, they have been outstanding,” he said after making 120 not out from 55 balls against West Indies.
Asked if the incident prompted any reflection, Maxwell replied: “No, I just moved on pretty quickly. I was back in training on the Monday so I was pretty good.”
The incident was the latest in a series of bizarre mishaps for one of the heroes of Australia’s 50-over World Cup win in India last year.
During the tournament, Maxwell was concussed after falling off a golf cart and missed a game against England. In November 2022, Maxwell broke a leg when he slipped while pretending to chase a friend at a birthday party – the injury cost him a spot in Australia’s Test squad to tour India and to miss an entire BBL season.
But Maxwell maintains his life “is normally pretty chill off the field”.
“We had swimming lessons the other day with little Logan, that’s probably the most wild thing I’m generally doing at home,” he said, referring to his six-month-old boy. The golf game has taken a serious hit.
“But yeah, just a lot of family time. I think having that much downtime with the family at the moment, it has just been so good for me away from cricket. And I sort of come to cricket, it is just fun now, I’m able to just go out and just enjoy it.”
