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Yeah, yeah, I know – Glenn Maxwell. The smash-and-bash merchant; beautiful one ball, erratic the next; stunning fielder, variable bowler; temperamentally suspect. Key player in Australia’s one day and Twenty20 teams, but so far a Test failure.
More than a failure, a bit of a joke.
But part of me would love to see him in the Test side in Bangladesh. And even at home this summer.
I should qualify.
If we had a normal Test make-up of six batsmen, one keeper and four bowlers, I would say no. Maxwell’s not a specialist batsman – and unlike, say, Steve Smith, I don’t think ever he will make one. He should stay as a bits-and-pieces all-rounder.
Like Adam Gilchrist and Shane Watson at his peak, playing two disciples helps reduce the pressure Maxwell puts on himself and enables him to play his natural game. Let him have two jobs.
Australia should play Maxwell as one of our two all-rounders. I am not a fan of the all-rounder selection policy, but Darren Lehman seems determined to use Mitch Marsh at six, making it essential we play another bits-and-pieces player in tandem.
You can’t risk a number six who averages 30 with the bat without compensating with a number eight who averages 30. It’s common sense – pick two all rounders or none.
Since the selectors of the Bangladesh squad have ignored James Faulkner, the choice comes down to Steve O’Keefe and Maxwell. I’ve got a soft spot for O’Keefe, so long ignored for higher level selection despite his strong first-class figures (he was overlooked as a Test spinner in favour of Smith, Maxwell, Xavier Doherty, Michael Beer and Ashton Agar); he’s a strong bowler, and a decent batter, with a first-class average of nearly 30 – which really makes him a bits-and-pieces all-rounder. Maxwell isn’t in the same class of bowler as O’Keefe and probably never will be.
And yet…
Imagine Australia are 6-92 and Steve O’Keefe walks out to the wicket. You might get a fighting fifty, and that’s not to be sneezed at. But if Maxwell came to the wicket, sure, you might get a duck. You might get one of the most ridiculous dismissals of all time.
But you might get a lightning century that changes the match.
Maxwell has the potential to be a match winner. The sort of player who can take the game away from the other side in a session.
O’Keefe is a fine player and we’re lucky to have him; if Lyon is injured he should be next cab off the rank. But I can’t see him ever destroying sides the way Maxwell can – if used correctly.
Maxwell shouldn’t play in the top six. He shouldn’t be expected to mature or grind out an innings. He should have the freedom to do his Maxwell thing.
Which means he should always be picked in tandem with another all-rounder who can compensate for Maxwell’s batting and bowling.
If they’re going to go with Mitch Marsh then they need Maxwell or O’Keefe to back him up. And out of the two of them, I’d go with Maxwell. The potential is just too irresistible.
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