HAMPSHIRE are hoping to have Glenn Maxwell back for a third season next year.

The Australian superstar failed to live up to his billing following his outstanding Indian Premier League.

Maxwell hit 552 runs at 34.5 for Kings XI Punjab at the IPL but only managed 127 at 11.54 during his two months with Hampshire.

But coach Dale Benkenstein hopes to have him back in 2015.

He said: “I don’t know what the arrangement is with Cricket Australia, I haven’t had that discussion yet, but next year I’d like to see him back.

“In different circumstances, if he’s a bit fresher, I’m sure he’ll win us a few more games. It wasn’t that he wasn’t trying, he just had a really tough time. But was always available and trying to work on what he could improve on.

“We were getting it right towards the end and then he left!”

Maxwell’s match-winning 146 against Lancashire at Old Trafford, the only victory of Hampshire’s Royal London One-Day Cup campaign so far, was the highlight of his second spell with the county.

“When he did so well at the IPL, I must admit I thought ‘oh no’ because it’s tough to follow that,” smiled Benkenstein.

“People expect these guys to just walk in and smack everyone around, but it takes time to adjust.

“A lot of guys who do really well in a big tournament and then come over to very different conditions here tend to struggle a bit. In India the grounds are really small and the wickets are really flat.

“It can also be that drain after using up huge amounts of energy. But he’s been brilliant for the team, the guys love him around.

“He’s a superstar but he doesn’t act like it; he really is like one of the boys, he fits in perfectly, he gives everything and he was brilliant in the field.”

Hampshire have a handy replacement for Maxwell in Owais Shah, who returns from the Caribbean Premier League later this month, when they take on Lancashire at Edgbaston in the second semi-final on August 23.

“It would have been great to have Maxi at Finals Day, because that’s the sort of occasion he lives for,” continued Benkenstein.

“But we’re still strong. Shah’s averaging 74 for us and the rest of the team will be similar to the one that won our last two group games.”