MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - OCTOBER 25: Glenn Maxwell of Victoria looks on after being named 12th man during day one of the Sheffield Shield match between Victoria and Tasmania at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on October 25, 2016 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Scott Barbour/Getty Images)

Former Test batsman Dean Jones believes Glenn Maxwell needs to find himself a mentor that he can trust and learn from in order to make better decisions both on and off the field.

Jones says Maxwell is missing a figure that can provide the 28-year-old with good advice should he need it, and thinks some recently retired Test stars could help the Victorian out.

"I think he really needs a mentor," Jones said.

"I don't want my sportsmen to come out of cookie moulds. I want them to have a personality and be able to say what they want, but I don't think that was the right forum for him to do it. He's got enough charisma in the way he plays. At the top of his game, he's in our team, first pick, and I think he's going to India.

"But the fact remains that I think he needs a mentor, whether that be Chris Rogers, or Michael Hussey or Mark Taylor or someone like that, who he could speak to and vent. I often did with Stacky (Keith Stackpole) or my dad, get it off your chest and then say 'okay, this is what we need to do'.

"I don't think you can be successful in international cricket without having someone you can speak honestly and candidly to. He's a bit of a repeat offender and that's hurting people. Now, is he worth working for? Yep, I think he is, he's got a lot to offer. (Ravi) Ashwin hates bowling to him, that's a fact... but he needs to get some runs."

Maxwell was left out of the Australian ODI side that beat New Zealand on Sunday, after he was fined by captain Steve Smith for comments he made about Victorian captain and fellow ODI squad member Matthew Wade.

The big-hitting right-hander wasn't happy with Wade batting ahead of him in the Bushrangers line-up, citing the fact that Wade wears the gloves for Victoria a reason that Maxwell should be above him.

Despite saying Maxwell needed a mentor Jones has faith in him, saying he was baffled as to why Maxwell wasn't in the squad for the opening match.

"I would've had him in," Jones said.

"I can't for the life of me work out how Mitchell Marsh is batting at No. 5, are you telling me Travis Head's not as good a batsman as [Marsh]?

"What Travis Head did was terrific, but he still lacks a bit of polish."