Roar Guru
Shane Watson’s ankle injury that has prevented him from taking his seat on the plane to Zimbabwe could be a blessing in disguise.
The number three position is now vacant in the Australian ODI team, and there is one man who is primed to grab it with both hands.
Glenn Maxwell can be Australia’s x-factor at number three.
With the World Cup only six months away, now is the time to unearth Maxwell as the destroyer at first drop. Maxwell has had a stellar 2014 with good performances for Victoria in the Sheffield Shield, Australia in one day internationals and at the T20 World Cup in Bangladesh.
He has also performed for the Kings XI Punjab in the IPL and most recently for Hampshire in county cricket.
The reason for his success this year has been the decision to move him up the batting order. His game has become well rounded and he can now handle the number three position in limited overs cricket.
Maxwell has the ability to blend the traditional ways of batting with the completely revolutionary. This mixture of the two creates an almost unstoppable force, and he can hit bowlers along the turf or over the fence in any section of the ground. With more time and more balls to face higher in the order, this results in Maxwell’s destruction of opposition attacks.
World Cups have been won in the past by sides with firepower at the top of the order. Players such as the Matthew Hayden, Adam Gilchrist and Ricky Ponting in the the 2003 and 2007 World Cup triumphs. Firepower in the batting is one thing Australia can have the edge over its rivals in the upcoming World Cup. A dynamic and destructive top three has the ability to take the game away from the opposition in the first 10 to 20 overs.
David Warner, Aaron Finch and Glenn Maxwell as Australia’s trio at the top of the order has the capabilities to be the most destructive in the world. The explosive batsmen at the top followed by the calming influences of Michael Clarke, George Bailey and Steve Smith in the middle order is the perfect set up.
A top six of that quality has the capabilities to set big totals of more than 300 runs in the first innings and the ability to chase down anything the opposition sets them. They’re dynamic enough to be able to adapt their batting to a variety of challenges thrown at them in games. This includes the spin of sub-continental nations and the pace of South Africa, New Zealand or England. It is a batting order for all conditions.
With the ODI series in Zimbabwe against the hosts and South Africa, the UAE against Pakistan and at home against South Africa, England and India, there are plenty of opportunities to blood Maxwell at three. There is also a chance to try fringe players such as Mitch Marsh, who could also provide Australia with that x-factor in the middle order at the World Cup.
Players such as the Marsh brothers and Phillip Hughes will create great depth in the World Cup squad.
To win the World Cup, Australia must have something that gives them the edge over their rivals. The all-round package of Maxwell is what will provide that. The ability to dominate pace or spin, bowl valuable overs of off-spin and his sensational fielding gives Australia the total package.
If Michael Clarke holds the trophy aloft at the MCG on Sunday March 29th, 2015, it will be because Warner, Finch and Maxwell were let loose as the top three batsmen.