The difference is crystal clear – Steve Smith’s first priority is what’s best for the team, while Glenn Maxwell’s priority is what’s best for Glenn Maxwell.
The last week again proved the difference with Maxwell having a brain explosion, accusing his Victorian captain Matthew Wade of batting ahead of him, costing him a chance of making the Test team in Adelaide.
Delusional.
For starters, Maxwell had none and Buckley’s of selection, as Australian coach and selector Darren Lehmann rightfully explained – “How do you pick a batsman who hasn’t scored a first-class century in two years?”
Worse than that, Maxwell’s ill-conceived anti-Wade snipe cost him a fine from the Australian ODI leadership group of Smith, David Warner, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood for showing disrespect to a teammate and damaging team harmony.
Whatever the fine was would be small beer for a petty thinking “me, me, me” Maxwell who banks over a million bucks every IPL tournament.
Therein lies the problem, which Wade kick-started three years ago by tabbing Maxwell the “Big Show,” and the image has been magnified by various cricket writers who describe Maxwell as an “endearing” character, who is “refreshingly” honest.
Heaven help us.
Even Mitchell Johnson, who should know better as a former senior in the Australian team, tweeted – ‘A fine, really!! Should be batting in front of a wicket-keeper considering he is a batsman right?”
Wrong.
With so many public figures throwing support behind Maxwell, he could be forgiven for thinking he’s the entertainer the cricket world is longing for, the second coming, and the Messiah.
Wrong again.
The truth is Glenn Maxwell is a cowboy who plays low percentage shots. While he continues to play risky shots and fails, he will not be in the Australian team.
Yesterday Maxwell was left out, and Australian romped home by 68 over the Kiwis on the back of Steve Smith’s career-best 164, the highest ODI scored at the SCG, and the equal sixth highest Australian in history with Ricky Ponting behind Matt Hayden’s 181*, David Warner’s 178, Mark Waugh and Warner’s 173, and Adam Gilchrist’s 172.
The blinkered supporters keep recalling Maxwell’s blistering 102 off 53 with 10 fours and four sixes against Sri Lanka last year.
That was 18 digs ago. He’s averaged 30.57 since.
But in his last eight digs he’s averaged just 14.28.
When will those supporters begin to realise Glenn Maxwell isn’t the entertainer, the second coming, nor the Messiah?
He’s a very talented cricketer who will never ever realise his potential until he thinks of his team first, and himself last.
Which brings up the question of Maxwell leaving the Vics and playing for NSW after the dramas of last week.
Maxwell tried that in May, but because he didn’t do his homework, the April window to switch states had expired.
The Vics didn’t block his decision, he blocked himself through stupidity.
In the light of what happened last week, there’s no way Smith, Warner, and Hazlewood, three justifiably proud New South Welshman, would want a loose cannon like Maxwell wearing the light blue.
The message is loud and clear to Maxwell from the people who count – shape up, or ship out.
The decision exclusively belongs to Glenn Maxwell.
Paul D
Roar Guru
Agreed, it seems like they're less concerned about what someone says than the mere fact someone isn't singing from the songbook. Lehmann is a terrible coach for dealing with personalities that don't fit into Lehmann's groove. Khawaja is only being tolerated because he's scoring runs. Watch them turn on him quickly if he loses form.
Tana Mir
Roar Rookie
Couldn't have said it better. Maxi is a rare talent. Lehman and Smith have failed to get best out of him so far. Pick him to bat at 6 in Tests, give him a long run(say 15 Tests), and watch him go. He is an absolute champ. The whole world knows it, the market (IPL) has proved it, but for some reason we keep smashing the bloke. Talk about fair go.....
Paul D
Roar Guru
Ahhh, the predictable anti-Maxwell article from a miserable spiteful old man. Did someone leave the gate open at the retirement home again David
13th Man
Guest
David you are a joke mate. Maxwell and Johnson are completely right, there is no way that Maxi and White should be batting below Wade, a keeper just because Wade is trying to further his chances at test selection. Wade is the selfish one in this situation.
Andy
Guest
I really really hope that at sometime during this series Wade and Maxwell are walking along and they come to a door or an elevator and Wade says 'you can go in first'. And everyone gets it and chuckles.
Brendon the 1st
Guest
Why do I read this guy's articles?
spruce moose
Guest
Predictable shocking research by David lord. Shane watson has the highest ODI score by an Australian. Retire.
Pumping Dougie
Roar Guru
Thanks Craig. I'm not surprised by Maxwell's honest comments but I'm surprised and disappointed in the one-sided, over-handed response from Lehman, Smith and others in the leadership group and the general lack of outspoken support from other cricketers (other than Johnson). They should have left it for Victoria to deal with. The one-sided, chiding, narrow-minded reaction reflects poorly on the national cricket fraternity.
Rod
Guest
Australia got lucky last night. If the Kiwis had only gone a review on Smith, Australia would have been lucky to get 200, which the Kiwis would have chased down quite easily. Zampa was bowling pies, with himself and Cummins going for almost half the Kiwi score. Maxwell may end up the Brad Hodge of this generation. If you're not "in", you're not in. Politics in cricket teams is just as bad as that in Canberra!
Craig
Guest
Well said Dougie. How has Wade come out of this whole thing squeaky clean? Surely pushing yourself up the order for your own purposes is a worse crime than someone calling you out for it?
Pumping Dougie
Roar Guru
Lancey, I think you're wasting your keyboard breadth presenting logical counter-argument to David. I suspect David is just trying to be obnoxious and provocative to elicit comments. I doubt many people would agree with the tripe he's published. Wade is undoubtedly the selfish one here, not Maxwell. Maxwell's Shield record over the past two seasons is exceptional and his performances for Australia in ODI have been exceptional - was stiff not to be awarded player of the tournament at the 2015 World Cup (only beaten by an even more impressive performance from Mitchell Starc). Obviously ODI is a different game, but the point being that he has delivered across the last two years in the opportunities provided him and topped the Shield batting averages last season. The Victorian hierarchy first tried to deny Maxwell an opportunity recently by not selecting him, and then when they were overruled by Cricket Australia, Wade denied him an opportunity, by promoting himself to further his own ambitions. Should Maxwell have kept his comments in-house? Sounds like that wouldn't have achieved much either.
Pedro the Maroon
Guest
And his to get out last night was pure filth. Like Warner's.
Pedro the Maroon
Guest
If you don't pick players for playing ridiculous shots and getting out to them time and time again - what is Warner doing in any side?
Rob
Guest
I think Steve Smith was dropped walking across the stumps attempting to whip the ball leg side. He was then given not out when plum LBW on off stump attempting to whip the ball across the line thru square leg on 16. The team was in a very vulnerable position. He went on to score 164 playing some outrages shots that could have been criticised as irresponsible. You have selectively given stats. Joe Burns averaged 13 runs in 8 innings for the Bulls for the whole season and was selected to open the bat? Maxwell's career ODI average 33 and that is about as low as it's been. Wade's is 26 it was as low as 22. Ponting went 11 inning in test cricket with out getting 20. Taylor had 1 score over 43 in 25 Innings. Maxwell's has a FC bowling average and SR similar to Nathan Lyon. Wade is an antagonist by nature in IMO. If Wade was the one behind calling Maxwell the "Big Show" (which he doesn't like) to get under his skin then you probably could draw the conclusion they don't like each other. It looks to me like Wade might suffer from jealousy and inferiority complex such is his combative nature. You have a dislike for Maxwell. It stinks you publicly take every opportunity to kick the kid.
Disco
Guest
Quite
Christo the Daddyo
Guest
"So his comment in a general sense actually isn’t valid." In the vast majority of teams, the specialist batsmen bat above the keeper, who then bats above the bowlers. So I would argue (to use your phrase - "in a general sense") that is Maxwell's point is completely valid. And so he is correct both in a general sense AND specifically in this case. Exceptions are always there (as you rightly point out), but they simply prove the point rather than refuting it.
Brian
Guest
He wasn't wrong about Wade though; he's been in horrendous form with the bat at FC level.
Christo the Daddyo
Guest
Fair point unfortunately. Still, this is a forum where the exchange of viewpoints is the actual raison d'etre - so I'll keep commenting...:)
Osmond
Guest
Glenn Maxwell is a much better cricketer than David Lord is a writer.
Basil
Guest
Christo, your points are valid but wasted. A wise man once said, "Do not argue with a fool as onlookers may not be able to tell the difference".