SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND - MAY 27: Glenn Maxwell of Australia during the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 Warm Up match between Australia and Sri Lanka at The Hampshire Bowl on May 27, 2019 in Southampton, England. (Photo by Alex Davidson/Getty Images)

Australia will look for Glenn Maxwell's T20I form to take a positive turn for their opening match of the T20 World Cup against New Zealand on Saturday.

Maxwell has failed to get into double figures in the last seven T20I appearances at the crease.

The destructive batter's form is so poor that it has been over 18 months since he registered a half-century. Maxwell's average in 2022 is 15.15 at a pedestrian strike rate of 113.87.

It's a poor return from Maxwell, who has been one of the format's more free-scoring players.

In Monday's warm-up match against India, Maxwell scored 23 from 16 balls. Despite edging Bhuvneshwar Kumar at a critical time in the innings, it was a positive sign that Maxwell was rediscovering his touch with the bat.

Australia's batsman Glenn Maxwell celebrates scoring his century against England during their Twenty20 cricket match at Bellerive Oval in Hobart on February 7, 2018. / AFP PHOTO / WILLIAM WEST / --IMAGE RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - STRICTLY NO COMMERCIAL USE-- (Photo credit should read WILLIAM WEST/AFP/Getty Images)

If this innings is the catalyst for a Maxwell revival, he will be thanking Dinesh Karthik, who dropped a chance off the batter's second delivery faced.

If Australia is to retain their T20 World Cup title, won last year in the United Arab Emirates, Maxwell is one of the critical success factors. His ability to score quickly and heavily, alongside handy spin and exceptional fielding, justifies his place in the team, a sentiment echoed by teammates in recent times.

If Maxwell were to be shelved, it could be Steve Smith for whom he makes way. As good as the former multi-format captain is in the longer form of the game, it would be to Australia's detriment should he be more viable than Maxwell in the shortest format of the game.

ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 26: Steve Smith of Australia walks from the field after being dismissed during game four of the One Day International series between Australia and England at Adelaide Oval on January 26, 2018 in Adelaide, Australia. (Photo by Daniel Kalisz/Getty Images)

Maxwell's T20I career stats show an average of 27.95 scored, crucially, at 150.40. Maxwell's ability to move the ball around and to the boundary in the middle overs is essential to Australia's success.

Maxwell's current position of 41st in the T20I batting rankings belies his undoubted abilities. Having held the number one ranking in 2018, Maxwell is currently a shadow of the batter from that period.

The shortest format of the game lends itself to quick changes of form and fortune, so a Maxwell cameo at the SCG would augur well for the player and country in the rest of the tournament.