The Roar
The Roar

Advertisement

Has the ‘Big Show’ finally arrived?

23rd April, 2014
Advertisement
Glenn 'Rocks and Diamonds' Maxwell will always bring the surprises. (AAP Image/Mark Dadswell)
Roar Rookie
23rd April, 2014
18
1259 Reads

Since his international debut, Glenn Maxwell has been teasing us. We saw glimpses of raw talent and jaw-dropping shots that were either incredibly imaginative or just plain stupid.

Maxwell has intrigued the Australian cricketing world with his potential, but frustrated us with some of his stupidity.

But now that has all changed.

It may only be T20 but Maxwell is in the best form of his career.

After being Australia’s only shining light in a horror T20 World Cup, Maxwell has dominated the IPL almost single-handedly, carrying his team over in all three wins.

He has scored an incredible 275 runs at average of 91.66, as well as a strike rate of 212.97.

Maxwell is striking the ball with ease and conviction and despite being dropped occasionally, including one from fellow Australian David Warner, the concentration lapses are becoming less and less.

Two months ago, Maxwell’s form and shot selection was different to the way he is playing right now.

Advertisement

His T20 series against England was horrid and his modes of dismissals were abysmal.

The most notable was in the third T20 at Stadium Australia in Sydney. Sent in to bat at number three, Maxwell was tasked with upping the run rate.

After hitting his second six, Maxwell tried once more to play the same stroke and failed, looking like a foolish one-trick pony.

It was starting to become a common cause in Maxwell’s game, not from getting dismissed, but from the lack of awareness of the game situation and his poor shot selection that made him look lazy and silly.

Australian coach Darren Lehmann was already onto this before anyone else and gave Maxwell a clip in the ear for not having ‘match awareness’ earlier in the ODI series against England.

Lehmann’s public whack was to get the best out of Maxwell and try to get a positive on-field performance from him. It now looks as though it was the turning point for his career.

Although it has taken him a little bit longer to show it on the big stage, Maxwell is finally living up to his potential of being a devastating batsmen and a more-than-handy off-spinner.

Advertisement

Despite being regarded as a T20 specialist, many people were surprised about his million-dollar contract with the Kings XI Punjab.

He started to slowly belittle those doubts with some seriously strong performances for Victoria in the Sheffield Shield, while many of his other teammates were struggling. Then, he continued his strong form in the T20 World Cup.

Now, three games into the IPL, Maxwell has no doubt proved his worth.

The ‘Big Show’ has finally arrived.

Just, don’t call him it that nickname.

The challenge is now up to Maxwell to further enhance his career. He has a choice.

He could belittle his career and become a T20 gun-for-hire. He could dominate tournaments like the IPL around the world and get paid good money for it.

Advertisement

Or he could take on a challenge and follow the footsteps of other T20 specialist batsmen such as David Warner and Steve Smith and break into the Australian Test team. He already has the faith of the selectors, who have played him before in Test matches.

Australia’s next Test series is against Pakistan over on dusty, turning pitches in UAE.

Another spinner is never a bad idea, especially one who is a batting all-rounder.

Should he continue his form and new found maturity, maybe we might see the ‘Big Show’ in the baggy green again come October.

Sorry. Maybe we might see ‘Maxi’ in the baggy green.

close