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Nick Kyrgios, Bernard Tomic and Glenn Maxwell share awesome natural ability, but all three have trouble harnessing their biggest asset.
Kyrgios has a short-fuse temper and a foul mouth, Tomic a hot and cold relationship with his peers, and Maxwell invents new ways to let himself and his team down.
But if ever they get their acts together and concentrate on their natural talents, Australia boast a trio of world-class sportsmen.
There have been encouraging signs lately all three are making headway promoting their assets, and leaving the rubbish in private.
Kyrgios is into the third round of the Australian Open at Melbourne Park thanks to two straight sets wins playing plenty of magnificent tennis – all power, precision and placement.
He’s beaten a couple of Pablos – Carreno Busta ranked 68, 6-2, 7-5, 6-2 in 91 minutes, and Cuevas ranked 41, 6-4 7-5, 7-6 in two hours.
Both matches were won because Kyrgios kept his cool and concentrated on what he does best, serving booming aces or unplayable serves, and cracking huge drives off both wings, either down the line or across court.
It’s been fascinating watching him concentrating on his talent, and using it to the full. He’s boomed 35 aces to just 18, cracked 87 winners to 54, and won 202 points to 161,
If there’s one area Kyrios can improve it’s his unforced errors that have been 50 to 54 – far too many, but he’s in such an aggressive mode it matters not if he keeps winning in straight sets.
Next up the very talented Tomas Berdych who will feed off any Kyrgios mistakes. That’s when the unforced errors will come into play.
Tomic wasn’t anywhere near as clinical as Kyrgios in his four-set win over Denis Istomin in the first round – 6-7, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4. In fact, the match stats would suggest Istomin was a lot closer than the scoreline suggests.
Istomin out-aced Tomic 23-16, struck more winners 56-51, and made less unforced errors 35-43.
Tomic scored more points 137-123, and converted four out of ten breaks points, while Istomin converted just one of 14.
But a win is a win, and as both Kyrgios and Tomic behaved impeccably, they are both on the right track.
That leaves Glenn Maxwell.
Matt Wade, Maxwell’s Victorian wicketkeeping mate, did him no favours when he nicknamed Maxwell the ‘Big Show’ early in is career.
To his credit, Maxwell never liked the tag, especially when his batting was more of a no show than a big show.
And yesterday at Manuka, Channel Nine’s Mark Nicholas bracketed Maxwell with AB de Villiers and Virat Kohli as the world’s most dangerous ODI batsmen.
Absolute bollocks, with Nicholas not doing Maxwell any favours either.
Fact, Maxwell has enormous natural talent and power, but he doesn’t, as yet, know how to handle it.
If he gave away the hero shots like the reverse sweep and cowboy shots altogether and played every ball on its merits, Maxwell would be a far better batsman, and a far better team man.
But as long as his backside points to the ground, Maxwell will never match de Villiers or Kohli.
Maxwell’s 1704 runs at 36.25 from 59 games with one century and 13 half-centuries will never compare to de Villiers’ 8403 at 54.21 from 196 games with 23 centuries and 47 half-centuries.
Or Kohli’s 7204 runs at 51.82 from 170 games with 25 tons and 26 half-centuries.
Just let Glenn Maxwell be Glenn Maxwell, providing he plays every delivery on its merit, and uses his extraordinary natural talent to the max, instead of butchering it with far too many low percentage shots.
I look forward to the day when Nick Kyrgios, Bernard Tomic and Glenn Maxwell realise their full potential.
It will be a great era for Australian sport.