Glenn Maxwell has just been picked as Australia’s spinning all-rounder for the Test tour of India, yet Steve Smith is showing blatant disrespect for Maxwell’s bowling.
Maxwell has been denied a bowl in five of his past six ODIs and in the past year has been offered just 1.5 overs per game, on average.
Smith does not seem to rate the Victorian’s bowling, which could have major ramifications in India.
What makes this situation so curious is Maxwell had been in great ODI bowling form up until one year ago, when Smith stopped using him almost entirely. At that point, Maxwell had taken 30 wickets at an average of 30 from his previous 31 ODIs. Yet Smith ignored this long run of good form and has since all but banished the all-rounder from the bowling crease.
Smith is ignoring Maxwell in favour of part-time off-spinner Travis Head, which is a strange decision when you compare their career 50-over records:
Maxwell: 75 wickets at an average of 36
Head: 12 wickets at an average of 58
In the current series against Pakistan, Maxwell has not been bowled once, while Head has taken two wickets at an average of 58. Australia will be making a major mistake if they go to the Champions Trophy in England with Head as their lead tweaker.
Up until a year ago, Maxwell was a key component of the Australian attack and would have almost justified his ODI spot with his spin alone.
Smith’s lack of confidence contrasts with former ODI captains George Bailey and Michael Clarke, both of whom gave Maxwell significant responsibility with the ball. Clarke believed so strongly that he used Maxwell as Australia’s main spinner during their successful 2015 World Cup campaign.
The Victorian repaid Clarke’s faith throughout that tournament, taking six wickets at an average of 36 – a fine return in a tournament played on pitches which saw only three tweakers feature in the top-20 wicket takers.
Poor handling of slow-bowling options is nothing new when it comes to Smith’s captaincy. It is curious that Australia have not played Adam Zampa, the leading ODI wicket taker worldwide last year, in even one of their six ODIs this summer, opting instead to use Head.
On the most pace-friendly of pitches it is understandable for Australia to leave Zampa out, instead banking on pace, but omitting him match after match makes no sense.
Smith is not on the selection panel, but Rod Marsh made it clear last year that the skipper has significant input on who makes the XI each game. It would seem unlikely Zampa is being left on the sidelines if Smith is advising the selectors to play him. Despite Zampa’s sensational limited overs record for Australia – 39 wickets at an average of 25 – Smith doesn’t seem to rate him.
His use of Zampa in last year’s World T20 was awful. Twice in that tournament, Zampa started extremely well with the ball, in a one or two-over spell, then was not used for the rest of the match. Zampa took five wickets at 13 for the tournament, yet he delivered only 11 overs in his four matches, when it was obvious to everyone but Smith that he should have bowled his full four overs in each game.
Smith has been copping flak this summer for his supposedly poor tactical deployment of Test spinner Nathan Lyon. While I don’t agree with much of this criticism – Lyon’s bowling was often so poor it was hard to utilise him fully – there is no doubt Smith’s handling of spinners must improve across all formats.
His refusal to bowl Maxwell could leave Australia in a strange position in the Tests in India. Australia are likely to field a batting all-rounder at six, so that means either Maxwell or Mitchell Marsh will be in the XI. If Smith doesn’t want to use Maxwell in ODIs, even when the game is all but killed off, how likely is he to want to bowl the Victorian in India?
Don Freo
Guest
He ok...and he's been ok. He is no less a bowler than part timers we accept...Viv Richards, Larry Gomes, Allan Border, The Waugh boys, Greg Blewett. Just don't expect him to be a front liner and you can enjoy him more.
Derek Murray
Roar Rookie
That would be my question. I doubt Smith is making an ad hoc call to pick Head over Maxwell on the field. It's strategic and seems, on the surface, to make bugger all sense. Would like a journo to ask either of them why.
Egbirt
Guest
Without looking at the numbers who has the better batting average, as well as more 50's/100's, over the past two shield seasons?
Ashan D
Roar Pro
Apologies... I mean unknown in terms of his bowling. Head is not much of a bowler is he ?
Don Freo
Guest
To whom is Head a "complete unknown"? He has captained South Australia for the last 2 seasons. It just doesn't have to be either/or. I do agree with the sentiment...give Maxi a bowl. He's actually not bad.
Armchair Expert
Guest
For memory Smith captained Sutherland as a teenager.
Ashan D
Roar Pro
#Warnerforcaptain Smith has no cricket brain to be a captain. It's so painful to see him carry around like a petulant child on the field. He is also Lehmann's yes man and takes his personal grudges on to the field which is the reason he is treating Maxwell like this. It's time for the public to make a noise about this. Who else with atleast a smallest of cricket brain would not bowl Zampa the leading ODI wicket taker ? Who else would completely ignore our leading spinner in ODIs in 2015 - Maxwell completely for an unknown Travis Head. Who else would not bowl Maxi who is the man going to India over an innocuous Head ?
Ashan D
Roar Pro
Smith is just making the stage to not pick Maxi in India. If Maxi bowls well in the ODIs, then he would have to be selected at no 6. But Smith and Lehmann are trying to create an opportunity for Mitch Marsh their favourite. Smith never liked Maxi and he seems to have no respect for Maxi possibly because he is afraid that Maxi would actually become better than him.There is no other way anyone can explain this situation. Smith does not like Maxwell and he is taking these personal issues to the field. Lehmann also supports this claim and they are in a power struggle with other selectors over Maxi. Hope Maxwell proves them all wrong. But I'm sorry to say, you wont see him playing the first test. It will be Mitch Marsh at 6. I hope Virat Kohli destroys us just so that Smith is thrown out of the captaincy for our team's sake.
El Loco
Roar Rookie
What may or may not happen in an overseas test match in a month or so shouldn't influence Smith's tactics in the current matches. What I can't believe is that he doesn't consider Maxwell worthy of a bowl on his ODI record alone - not just his stats but the way his confidence seems to liven up a game. Odd treatment of an impact player.
JoM
Guest
No 6 problem solved?
BurgyGreen
Guest
Maxwell does put up decent numbers in the Shield
BurgyGreen
Guest
Not saying Smith's a good bowler. However, I do think there's a fair chance he'd do better than 8 wickets at 52.
nickbrisbane
Guest
Where is Lehman in all of this? Why isn't he counselling Smith about his use of spinners - unless he agrees with not using Maxwell. If so, why pick him?
twodogs
Guest
Taylor yeah, but he did inherent a pretty fantastic team. A team which probably didn't even need a coach. That aside, Taylor was quite astute.
Bob
Guest
Ditto that first sentence for Maxwell, but he already defied logic by getting three tests. What's next - we'll pick Moisés Henriques, oh wait.
Chris Love
Roar Guru
Smith is smart. He knows Maxi actually turns the ball a bit (just a bit but it's a bit more than head) and that tiny bit of spin is enough to cost Australia 10-15 runs in byes and 2 wickets (plus those runs) per game with Wade behind the stumps. Those in the comments defending Head's bowling, jeez what are you watching? The bloke is a poor bowler. More like a short run up, really slow medium pacer than a spinner.
qwetzen
Guest
"Australia has generally put their best batsman as the captain for as long as I’ve been watching ( perhaps Ian Chappell being the exception)" One of the characteristics that made Chappelli so respected by his players was that he was more likely than anyone else to score runs when they were badly needed. That aside, the only better batsman in the side when Lawry was punted was his brother. GSC at that stage was in his 4th Test and after a century on debut his scores were; 15, 2, 3, 20* and 0. Not really a choice for captaincy then Now if you're looking for a genuine "exception" then look no further than MA Taylor.
Ozibatla
Guest
Tatah ive seen Warner captain our 20/20 side and he would be a better option. The bloke has imagination, flair and relates to the bowlers (of whatever variety) much better. I think Smith was goven the gig because hes younger, abit naive, and more inclined to toe the line with messrs Howard, Lehmann, Sutherland etc
Nudge
Guest
He came into the team as a bowler, hence his decent average. Smith now bowls at the very least 2 half trackers or full tosses an over and that's why he rarely bowls himself now, and why Clarke rarely bowled him in his last 2 years as captain
qwetzen
Guest
"when things go awry" I've no idea how one could ratify and compare, but Smith's teams seem to be serial offenders at letting the opposition slip from 4/50 to 10/475.