Explosive allrounder Glenn Maxwell is adamant the nickname has to go, along with the perception he’s not a red-ball cricketer.
Dubbed The Big Show by former Australian teammate Matthew Wade, Maxwell is desperate to use his Sheffield Shield appearances for Victoria to push his claims for a return to Test cricket.
The 25-year-old admits he needs to lose his reputation as a Twenty20 and one-day player – and fast.
“At the moment I haven’t really played a lot of red-ball cricket,” he told reporters at Bellerive, where the Bushrangers are taking on Tasmania.
“I haven’t put a whole lot of big hundreds on the board, so there’s a few things working against me.
“I need to change that perception really fast.”
Maxwell commanded a $1 million Indian Premier League contract earlier this year, which only added to the perception he wasn’t a long-form player.
The nickname didn’t help either.
“It spun out of control pretty quickly,” he said.
“I desperately tried to shrug it off but the thing is when you fight nicknames like that that you don’t like, people just keep running with it.
“I’m trying to ignore it now and hopefully it disappears soon and I can just be called Maxy.”
The 25-year-old made his Test debut during Australia’s ill-fated tour of India in March, averaging just 9.75 with the bat and 27.57 with the ball in two matches.
But he says his approach has changed since smashing an unbeaten 155 for Australia A in South Africa earlier this year.
He plans to play in Victoria’s four Shield games before the break for the Big Bash League, and hasn’t completely given up on playing a part in the Ashes series getting underway next week.
“The only thing I can really look forward to, if there was something ion the horizon, is fourth and fifth Tests if the first three don’t go too well,” he said.
“A lot of things have got to go wrong in Australian cricket for me to get back I think.”
Nardus Visser
Guest
Funny reading this 5 years later. I think it's safe to say Australian cricket is a shadow of it's former self - yet no Big Show in the test team...
jammel
Guest
Maxwell needs to make some big runs - slowly! He won't be remembered if he continues with the entertaining 30s and 40s and 50s... And take some wickets too would help.
AZ_RBB
Guest
Loving all this Maxwell hate hahah.
Rellum
Roar Guru
I have always though his nick name had more to do with his ability to be an enabler for the opposition.
Disco
Roar Guru
"slogger who cant bowl" Spot on.
Silver_Sovereign
Guest
Ronan...someone tell James Brayshaw never to set foot in a commentary booth again. And I think The Big Hoax is a more fitting description for the slogger who cant bowl
rl
Guest
He could be "No Show", but I think that belongs to Dave Warner and, to Maxwell's credit, he does at least turn up to games...
Brett McKay
Expert
Someone tell James Brayshaw then...
Steve
Guest
There is a whole psychology involved with nicknames, to keep it short, in Australia it's a good thing to get one, and while this one may be unfortunate, I'd rather have it than not.....
Nick
Roar Guru
I don't know what he complains about...more people call him the 'No show' rather than the 'big show' these days anyway.
jameswm
Roar Guru
Exactly. Smith was chucked in too early and came back with a better temperament and understanding of his game. Maxwell has the ability, it's th grey matter that will determine it. I wish he could get more energy on the ball and be a more threatening spinner too. Surely someone is working on that?
tomjas
Guest
Maxwell actually has a huge amount of talent with the bat and a pretty good technique as well. The question is whether he has the temperament to capitalize in the longer formats rather than ability
Harry
Guest
He has achieved what most of us can only dream off - wearing the baggy green. And he earns a million bucks a year playing hit and giggle in the IPL. Good on him, what a lucky guy. Can't see him being a test cricketer anytime soon though.
Riley K
Roar Rookie
The man said it himself - “A lot of things have got to go wrong in Australian cricket for me to get back I think.” Let's hope it never gets to that. At least not until he can prove he knows how to leave "more than a ball or two."
Statler and Waldorf
Roar Guru
I thought his nickname was sarcastic....
Chui
Guest
Oh no. Not another 'brand' bighead realising that you have to grow up some time.
Peter
Roar Rookie
Mr Cricket couldn't lose that moniker nor could Ricky lose the Y so bad luck Big Show.