The upcoming World Cup will likely to be the heaviest scoring tournament since the event was inaugurated in 1975.
This year’s co-hosted event will be played on true surfaces on either side of the Tasman.
Some of the grounds will feature boundaries that are little larger than what you would expect for an under-16 fixture.
The latest generation bats will again cause headaches for bowlers and captains alike, with mis-hits landing in the crowd.
But the biggest factor that is likely to lead to a run feast is the way the modern game is played.
Just as the introduction of one-day cricket over time led to an increased scoring rate at Test level, the sport’s newest abbreviated form, Twenty20, has seen an increase in the scoring rate in ODIs.
The frenetic nature of T20 cricket where a mere 120 balls are allotted per innings has led to an increase in inventiveness by batsmen.
The first T20 World Cup was staged only eight years ago and when India were crowned the inaugural world champions it led to the birth of the Indian Premier League, which opened for business in 2008.
In the seven years since domestic-based franchise competitions have sprung up around the globe.
Nearly every player from the top-eight nations at this month’s World Cup has had wide exposure to the T20 format with many playing in several competitions each year at both international and domestic level.
And that ever-increasing exposure to T20 cricket has seen batsmen develop increasingly audacious ways of scoring.
One of those men to have pushed the envelope is Glenn Maxwell.
Since Australia contested its first ODI 44 years ago, no player to have faced 500-balls has a higher strike rate for Australia than Maxwell.
Indeed, his career mark of 116 has him sixth overall in the history of ODI cricket.
The only other Australian among the 18 players who have compiled career strike rates in excess of 100 is James Faulkner, whose 111 has him in ninth place.
Faulkner is presently regarded as the best finisher in the game.
Numerous times he has either accelerated Australia’s innings total when the team is setting a target or helped charge down a total in the dying overs of a match.
His most recent heroics came less than a fortnight ago at the WACA Ground in the final of this summer’s triangular one-day series.
With England looking likely to restrict Australia to a score in the vicinity of 230 it was Faulkner, who in the blink of an eye, effectively put the match beyond England’s reach.
His 24-ball unbeaten 50, which he compiled at number eight in the order, saw Australia finish its innings at 8-278.
Interestingly, in the same innings, Maxwell posted his highest ODI score – 95 from 98 balls.
Both Maxwell and Faulkner possess shots that many others can only dream of.
Having them both in any Australian one-day team is a luxury.
At present however, only one of the pair is available – Maxwell.
With a side strain expected to sideline Faulkner until the back-end of the tournament at best, a far greater weight will be on Maxwell’s shoulders.
He will likely bat at five and certainly no lower than six.
Should those above him set a solid platform it will be Maxwell who will be required to ice the cake in the back half of the innings.
He started this summer’s protracted list of one-day fixtures in ordinary form with knocks of 29, 0, 2 and 7 in his four matches against South Africa.
Things improved in the triangular series with his career-best 95 coming after innings of 37 against England at Hobart and 20 against India at the MCG.
In the run-in to the World Cup he has played warm-up matches against India at Adelaide (122 off 57 balls) and the UAE at the MCG yesterday, where he batted at eight and went to the crease in the 47th over, scoring seven.
When the tournament proper kicks off this weekend it is imperative for Australia that Maxwell is on-song.
When he is he has the ability to provide enormous headaches for his opponents given the fact that he can access nearly every square metre of the ground in his quest for runs.
Such an approach brings with it an inherent risk.
At times Maxwell will need to rein in his ‘creative’ side and look to score by utilising more orthodox methods.
Attempting to ride his luck from ball one could have dire consequences.
He has the ability to tick the scoreboard over frenetically simply by relying more on the percentages but when it is required he possesses the ability to change gears and approach speeds that few can.
Maxwell has been at pains in recent times to publicly state his dislike of the ‘Big Show’ tag that was bestowed upon him at the outset of his international career.
While he will be hoping that it is further downplayed over the next six weeks there is no escaping the fact that he will be taking part in one-day cricket’s Big Show.
With the right approach he has the ability to stamp his own unique style on this year’s tournament, and with it, immeasurably improve Australia’s chances of securing a fifth World Cup title.
Matth
Guest
Well 54 off 31 so far as we speak. Looks like he's doing ok. I'm sure some people will declare it not good enough
Ray Bullock
Guest
Flash in the pan
Ray Bullock
Guest
You must be joking ,surely. Maxwell in the same level as Ponting and Waugh. He has lot more to do to be on that level. Have you just started watching the game dude. I keep saying ,make him permanent 12th man as exploit his fielding talents. Mr Overated.
Chris Kettlewell
Roar Guru
I think you only need about 2 metres really between the rope and the fence, max. If it's safety and you want to go less than that, just put a bit of padding around the base of the fence so if they slide past the rope and into the fence they hit something soft.
Chris Kettlewell
Roar Guru
That is true. Australia's top order is looking pretty good at the moment, so it's unlikely that someone like Maxwell will have the chance to get as many runs. Of course, the counter argument is that in the modern game players coming in with just 10-15 overs to go actually still have the chance to pile up pretty huge runs. AB De Villiers got almost 150 just recently coming in with 10 overs to go. So it's now more and more possible for players coming in further down the order to pile on some big runs, and if the top 4 do well and set a good platform, it may even be the opportunity to send in someone like Maxi further up the order to have a chance at pushing the acceleration along a bit.
Perry Bridge
Guest
once upon a time the Gabba had a dog track - that went and the use of ropes now - I do ponder which boundary length was greater - the dock track era or the new 'roped' era?? The MCG straight boundary is relatively short as that's AFL wing to wing - were the straight boundary goal to goal then that would be the longer dimension. It's arguable as to whether the straight hit should be the longest or the shortest dimension however the batter is over half way from that straight boundary (by half the full width plus half the pitch length) whereas hitting square the batter relative position is depending upon the position of the pitch in the pitch square. Wellington (Cake tin) is 235m by 185m supposedly - which is very large - - and more than capable - as it does now - to host AFL matches. There's not many fields like that in the world - - unless of course you grass over running tracks!!!
Perry Bridge
Guest
Ray - see my review of Maxwell earlier in this thread. After 41 matches he has already got to 1000 ODI runs with 9 50s at an avg of 30. Not astounding you may say - but, basically same age range for Watson and Symonds, both after 41 matches were averaging about the same but with less hits, 2 50s each and no 100s each (neither had topped 80 by that stage). Maxwell is on trajectory to become one of our ODI greats. What has he done so far? For an age range of 23-26 he has built a career base that is easily comparable to guys who are rated very highly indeed. Maxwell has had 39 bats in 41 ODI's which is a far higher ratio than either of Watson or Symonds - this means that he's had more 'exposure' earlier than both Watto and Symmo. No surprises he's been a little inconsistent. Note that it took Watto 47 hits to reach 1000 ODI runs. By which point he had registed 7 50s. Maxwell has made 1000 off 39 hits with 9 50s. Symonds after 39 hits managed his first 100 (143), but only had 2 other 50s to his name) and took another 4 hits to get to the 1000. The run rate is nice - but certainly Maxwell is showing that he's starting to learn some 'tempo' batting - his 95 a couple of weeks back was a tremendous knock because of A. the rescue aspect from a precarious position and B. the early responsibility shown to steady things and C. the acceleration shown including batting for the team rather than for his 100 (or was it ego trying to hit a six to bring it up?? dunno). At any rate - I seriously believe his is on the cusp of greatness. re associate countries - most likely Maxwell won't get a chance to score a 100 against them as the top order bats are more likely to boost their stats by doing that.
matth
Guest
This is why picking a New Zealander for tournament top run scorer, and definitely for most sixes, is a lock. Small grounds and they play every match there until the semis
matth
Guest
BOOM? - that's two. That's what I'm saying. There are not too many. You have listed the only other two in the world. Russell from the West Indies and Faulkner from Australia also come close. You have actually proved my point.
Don Freo
Guest
Thankfully, World's Biggest, Maxi doesn't have to convince you. If his recent batting and bowling hasn't convinced you, that makes a comment about what you want him to be. It could be that he'll never be Simon Katich or Allan Border. He is Glenn Maxwell. Surely he has convinced you of that. How can that not excite you?
Don Freo
Guest
Ray...either you are just anti-Maxwell or you are not watching. He is every bit as good in the field as Ponting and Symonds. Different kind of fieldsman to Waugh. Waugh could not match his agility. His fielding is that good. That is part of the excitement. Blewett and Martyn? Really!
Ray Bullock
Guest
Look mate ,he is no" great" bat. His fielding is very good but no Mark Waugh ,Ponting ,Damian Martyn Lyon is a better field, No Dean Jones. Symonds better. Blewett was a beauty Maxwell can field but no superstar just yet. And his bowling ,well it's not going to get the good batsmen shaking in their boots.
13th Man
Guest
Bopara is rubbish Stokes is better with the bat and better with the ball, I still don't get it?????
13th Man
Guest
Dunedin is pretty small as well. Queenstown is miniature but they aren't playing any games there thank goodness, if the likes of Warner, De Villiers and co had a game there we could see 500 as a par score.
13th Man
Guest
Luke Ronchi, theres another success story! Couldn't get a game with WA and went over to NZ and is performing exceptionally well
Adsa
Guest
I liked Afridi, good player to watch, and just got better with age.
jammel
Guest
#1 to #4 are going to go sensationally well!! At least I'm expecting big things from Warner and Finch and Smith.
jammel
Guest
Wow! That's a pretty big call Ronan - Maxwell has a good WC with the bat and Australian will win it! I wouldn't have necessarily said that even about past greats like McGrath / Gilchrist / Warne…. You always need multiple form players/performances. The real question, though, is what are the chances that Maxwell will have a good WC with the bat? I'd say about 40-50% personally. What do you think?
Pumping Dougie
Guest
Fair observation Bush. I just mean that when the team is traveling ok or is not under the pump, he can take the game away from the opposition. But if we're 3 for 30, we'll pretty soon be 4 for 30. Steve, I don't think anyone cared much about the triangular series - it's a bit like watching the NSB Cup in footy - it's just a warm-up series basically, with nothing riding on it. Hence, Maxwell felt no pressure and excelled. Don't get me wrong; I like the bloke!
Worlds Biggest
Guest
Maxwell is flakey and I'm not convinced, he needs to prove himself in this World Cup. He needs to pull back on the funky stuff and knuckle down. I'd be more comfortable with him in the lineup if Faulkner was fit.