Hohns forgets Maxwell in ultimate Test insult

Glenn Maxwell has suffered the ultimate Test insult after national selector Trevor Hohns tried to explain the logic behind Australia's controversial Ashes selections.

Tim Paine's shock recall as Australia's wicketkeeper for the first two Tests stole the headlines, while Shaun Marsh's inclusion as number six batsman also raised eyebrows.

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West Australian opener Cameron Bancroft's mountain of Sheffield Shield runs put forward an irresistible case that selectors couldn't ignore, while Matthew Renshaw's lack of runs saw him brutally dropped.

Hohns addressed the media on Friday to explain the contentious selections but as former Test player Marcus North pointed out, he completely forgot to mention anything about Maxwell.

The allrounder played the last four Tests for Australia on gruelling batting pitches on the subcontinent, even managing to hit a debut Test century for his troubles.

Coupled with scores of 60 and 64 for Victoria against South Australia in the Shield and a 45 n.o. against Tasmania before bad light ended the match prematurely, Maxwell can consider himself hard done by to miss out on Ashes selection.

Yet no mention of the allrounder from Hohns, who instead pointed to the credentials of Marsh - the 34-year-old recalled to Test cricket for an incredible eighth time to take Maxwell's spot at six.

"Shaun is playing very well at the moment, having scored consistently in the JLT One-Day Cup and first three rounds of the JLT Sheffield Shield competition," Hohns said.

"He is a versatile player who can slot in anywhere in the batting order and will add valuable experience to the batting line-up."

Marsh has scored 236 runs at 39.33 in the Shield so far this season, with Hohns claiming his inclusion should provide a boost to others over 30 to push their cases.

"I would think it's the type of selection that is warranted and secondly it also displays that we're not just not here to pick a development side as has been touted a little bit in the past and that's just a nonsense," he said.

Hohns explanation has not gone down well with some, however, with Victorian batting coach Trent Woodhill particularly scathing of the national selector and the decision to snub Maxwell.

Hohns said only Bancroft had truly pushed for selection as the right-hander was included in the squad, along with the likes of Tim Paine and Shaun Marsh.

"It took us quite a while because there were several contenders for various positions as everybody knows," Hohns said.

"There were a lot of under-performers as well. We really didn't have anybody jumping out at us to demand selection, except for Cameron Bancroft, who put a case forward that was irresistible.

"That's what we're asking our players to do now, not mediocre performances. We want to raise the bar so we want some of them now belting the door down with performance to keep the pressure on the boys that have been chosen.

"I think that will make our whole competition, our whole Australian setup, our Australian side, a lot, lot stronger, if there is good competition for positions."

With agencies