Can Glenn Maxwell learn from Mitchell Marsh's batting at the MCG?

Glenn maxwell will not be a suitable batsman / all-rounder in South African conditions, Mitch marsh will be more suited there particularly for the Test Series.

I think that Langer is the reason why Mitch Marsh has changed his game (also noting Steve Smith). He is far more reserved yet can still play the big shots. I went to my first T20 game last night and watched the Scorchers win over Sydney. It was really noticeable how the Scorchers players get into the trenches. They are talented but also they love the battle. That was the difference to me in their win. That is why they are so competitive, win the close games & can cover for so many injuries, they all have the same attitude, no matter who you are. Maybe Maxwell could do better than come and play for WA under Langer for a while?

Was it for convenience sake that you overlooked his last bowling performance? Oh, remember any edge produced from Cook's bat when he was on 66? You seem to have forgotten some things that don't suit. Did you "mean" to do that?

You mean the 0-43@4.78rpo that he got in the first innings of Perth and the 0-14@4.67rpo that he got in the second innings as “immediate dividends” for a player that was given very favourable treatment over other incumbents because of his bowling ability? Or the 0-42 at the MCG? For a player that has been brought into the team to bowl, 0-99 isn’t exactly paying dividends.

I was thinking Joe Burns for Kwaja. Burns has 500 runs at about 64 this season. And he didn't get a crack like Maxie did on that postage stamp that is North Sydney Oval where Maxie got his 278.burns ha sa double ton too this season - on a much bigger ground.

Selectors seem to like picking players on potential. I would suggest Maxwell has the potential to be as good as Smith.He was dropped for a 34 year old. I think Maxwell would be in every other test playing countries 1st 11.Australia aren't the number one ranked test team and yet cant find a spot for him. I think the thing keeping Maxwell out is not reverse sweeps it is some kind of personality thing. So Maxwell needs to keep batting the way he is but also needs to learn a few good jokes.

At this stage of both Marsh and Maxwell's test careers, only one innings of this responsible "ball on its merits" approach have been provided by either of them. It is actually a bit rich to imply that Mitch has delivered something that Maxwell hasn't. Maxwell made 104 in India ,on a far more difficult wicket than this tepid MCG pitch. He has already displayed a more measured and mature approach to his batting this shield season. It looks good for Australian cricket if both of these players, show greater application and continue to respect time at the crease in longer format cricket.

Please, Don. David doesn't have to do any research for his articles if you hadn't noticed in the past how ever many years on the roar.

Maxwell for Khawaja, who looks like a walking wicket, don’t think he’ll be able to deal with SA seam successfully, even though he did had success in Adelaide last year.

Or Warner maybe?

" the 29 not out under intense pressure was by far the most important dig he’s played for his country – cometh the hour, cometh the man. Can Glenn Maxwell do that?" Well he made 104 off 185 (SR 56.21) when he came in at 4/140 in India in a live match (series was 1-1 at the time). Context and conditions considered, this is a considerably more meritorious innings than either of Mitch Marsh's knocks (whilst both of them were very good in different ways). Maxwell's century was also batting with Steve Smith who seems to be the common success factor for good partnerships (both M. Marsh's 181 and 29 not out). With Maxwell's form and improved approach, I have almost no doubt that he'd have made as many runs as Mitch Marsh has this series across the 3 Tests, but the selectors went with Marsh for bowling reasons (not batting reasons) in Perth, and it paid immediate dividends. I think Maxwell needs to be be in the XI against South Africa, whether that involves elevating S. Marsh or Khawaja to open, to bring about a middle order vacancy, I'm not sure.

David,I don't really understand this article,Maxwell is now batting far differently to how it did a few seasons ago which you seem fixated on.

All valid points, David. A well-reasoned and thought out article, a nice change! To be fair to Maxwell, I think he has already made the changes you suggest, it's just a question of whether he can maintain such temperance. I, for one, hope that he can. In current mode, Maxwell would be a great asset to the Test team.

David - You quote Maxwell's sheffield shield scores this season, but did you actually watch any of them? If you did, then you would notice that he has canned the reverse sweeps, and the "show pony" stuff that you talk about. You are right in asserting that prior to his test recall, his flambouyant style kept him from the test side. However, he has since reigned it in, and is now batting like a "proper" FC/test batsman. The only thing that was keeping Maxwell from the test side is the selectors' wet dream of having a dual Marsh middle order. He (Maxwell) was by far the most harshly treated test incumbent, as he averaged higher than S Marsh in SS before Marsh's recall. As the test incumbent, Maxwell did not do enough to be dumped - or conversely, Marsh did not do enough to usurp Maxwell. It feels as if you are basing your piece entirely on preconceived (mis)conceptions, and not on the evidence at hand.

David, you missed my point. As Don said above, Glenn Maxwell v. 2017 is no longer the irresponsible show pony of the past. He's now playing well-structured innings, with sound technique as his basis. And to his immense credit, Mitch Marsh has also adopted this philosophy in the 2017/18 season. We now have more options in the middle order, which was Australian cricket's biggest Achilles heel these past few years. If anyone in the middle order gets injured or loses form , I now feel far more comfortable with our options. I reckon Steve Smith deserves a fair amount of credit for this, with a clear mandate for patient batting being the way forward since that Hobart debacle.

When did you last see him play, David? Those 'trick' shots are in your mind only when it comes to FC cricket. Consistent runs are his currency. All he needs is a vacancy. Maxwell is on track and ready right now. What you need to understand, David, is that only 11 players can play any given game. The reason Maxwell is not playing is that he is not in that 11...not because of 'trick shots'.

Would of been intersting to see how Maxwell would of gone on the Roads of Aus versus Indian rank turners. Maybe Maxwell for Usman and let him have a crack. That way don't need 2nd spinner

And they have all been overseas on the sub continent. David, you have to concede that Maxwell is turning over a new leaf. He scored a test century in India and is averaging 70 plus in the current shield season.

"It would be fair to say Glenn Maxwell is the most naturally-gifted batsman in Australia" not really, I think Steve Smith would be the most gifted.