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.
Bearfax
Guest
And I think Maxwell has a greater range of strokes than Warner, and I think highly of Warner
BurgyGreen
Guest
Agreed, Maxwell like Warner before him is being written off purely because he's good at limited overs cricket. Strange logic, but there it is.
Liam
Guest
Um, guys, you ARE aware that, of the three forms of the game Maxwell has played - outside of test cricket, which he has had limited opportunity - his average is actually the highest at first class level. He averages 20.36 at T20, 34.88 in ODI's, and 40.42 in first class cricket. This, alone, should put him in the conversation against other contenders for a middle order berth. For all of those people who are saying that they want to see more consistent scores/runs at first class level, he's done it. Do we really want to wait four years for him to turn 30 before we are willing to see if he could make a go of it at test level?
Ronan O'Connell
Expert
Interesting to see Khawaja made 201no in Brisbane grade cricket on the wicket, smashing Cameron Boyce around. Hopefully he gets a chance in Bangladesh.
Bearfax
Guest
Have you been soiling the sheets Craig?
Bucko
Guest
Khawaja Burns Smith Voges Maxwell M Marsh Nevill O'keefe Starc Cummins Lyon. This Team should be able to beat Bangladesh. At least slay at the cards table when every day is washed out.
Craig Watson
Guest
That is the big conundrum. Will he continue to mature? Have to say he is a pretty slow learner.
Craig Watson
Guest
Why was I required to log in this morning. Where did my profile gone? This site has been poor lately. I post a comment and next day I can not access the thread with my comment. Can someone look into this for me please?
jammel
Guest
Baz - I don't think having Maxi at #5 in Tests, and Mitch Marsh at #6, leaves us with enough batting. Personally, I'd go whoever out of MMarsh / Faulkner / Maxi / Henriques makes the most first-class runs - BIG runs. But realistically there's only room for one of these cricketers. If Australia does need an all rounder, #1-#5 must be specialist batsmen in Tests.
James B
Guest
Honestly if Maxi continues to mature as a batsman and ditch some of his silly shots he'd be a great number 4. And his bowling is just an added bonus. In saying that his bowling stats at test level were actually pretty good an average a touch over 30 with a strike rate of 50 as a spinner puts him in pretty good company
Craig Watson
Guest
I am with those who say Maxwell has to score big runs at domestic level before he is considered for tests. Why he was taken to BD is baffling. He is not a genuine all rounder. He does not appeared to have played much domestic red ball cricket over the past few years. So not easy to see just where he is at present.
Craig Watson
Guest
Some good points Jarijari. In my opinion neither Maxwell or Faulkner are good enough to bat at six. At the moment in any case. Mitch Marsh need some decent runs in BD to cement his place for the summer tests. As CA are obsessed with an all rounder at six rather than a specialist who other than Maxie or Faulkner is there?. Perhaps Moisés Henriques. He has a fair FC record and has already played test cricket.
Baz
Guest
I reckon Maxi's best chance for a test spot would be as a batsmen at 5 after Voges retires. The selector's keep persisting with M. Marsh at 6 cause he's touted as "the future", so 6 is out of the question. Maxi has a first class batting average of 40-odd doesn't he? I'd trial him at 5 for a bit and if it doesn't work so be it, at least we didn't die wondering
Andy Hill
Roar Pro
Give Maxwell a full summer of shield cricket and if he manages to average 50+ batting in the middle order for the Vics, he can take over from Voges at 5 in the test team after he retires. Or he can take Mitch Marsh's spot at 6 if he fails this summer, which is a distinct possibility.
Broken-hearted Toy
Guest
Exactly. They are not like-for-like at all.
Tom Baulch
Roar Guru
He's better than Voges, would rather have Maxy who can also bowl, unlike Voges who is just a crab, infact i would rather have him over Shaun Marsh.
Armchair Expert
Guest
Correct again Bf, the other point this article misses is that even if Maxwell was in the same class as O'Keefe as a bowler, he still spins the ball the wrong way to have the right team balance with Lyon.
BurgyGreen
Guest
I reckon you've got it the wrong way round. He IS good enough to be a specialist batsmen - one of the few contenders with a 40+ FC average. He's a superbly talented batsman. He's far more valuable to us as a pure bat than a bits-and-pieces offspinning allrounder at 7 or 8. He should be our long-term 5 or 6.
Golden
Guest
The whole idea of going in with 2 all rounders is flawed. It hasn't worked over the past 5 years where it has been tried several times.
jammel
Guest
I think there's little point in trying to fit Maxwell into the team. (i.e. talking about having another 'all rounder'). He has been tried, and failed, so he wouldn't be near an Australian Test XI for mine atm. Having said that, he is an outstanding talent. I'd like Maxwell to play some long form cricket, focus on his batting and make some runs - make some hundreds and average 50+ in the Shield. Then he would certainly present a compelling case. Use Smith's career development as a guide. The only currency at the moment for Maxwell to advance any possible Test career is runs.