Cricket: Glenn Maxwell and Australia squad prepare for World Cup warm-up matches

Australia all-rounder Glenn Maxwell said on Sunday that he is confident former skipper Steve Smith and ex-deputy David Warner will overcome illness and play in Australia's imminent World Cup warm-up matches against a New Zealand XI in Brisbane. Smith and Warner have been hampered by viruses as they return to the national team since their well-documented 12-month bans. Australian allrounder Glenn Maxwell added that he can't wait for the World Cup to start and after a long lead-up over the past Southern Hemisphere summer the squad will play three unofficial warm-up games against the Kiwis starting on Monday.