When Glenn Maxwell strode to the crease on the fourth ball of Australia’s innings last night in Hobart he was batting number four, and the score was 2-4.
Eighteen overs later Maxwell had his arms raised high after smashing a six over long on to be 103 not out, and Australia had beaten England by five wickets in their T20 clash.
There was only one man-of-the-match contender after Maxwell had earlier captured 3-10 off just two overs in keeping England to 9-155 that included 13 fours, and five sixes.
To put Maxwell’s dig in perspective, he cracked ten fours, and four sixes.
England’s innings was at least 25 runs shy of where they should have been following their 1-60 after the power play of six overs, and 3-96 at the halfway stage.
Losing 6-59 in their last ten overs cost England the game.
Not that Maxwell gave a rats’, he was hell bent on creating carnage as only he can do when in the mood.
(AAP Image/Mal Fairclough)
Let’s face it, Maxwell lives by the sword, and there were two moments when he should have died by it.
At 40 Alex Hales dropped him at deep square leg with no excuses for the miss.
And at 59, Jason Roy misjudged a straight forward catch at long off, having to dive forward to complete it very close to the ground. In fact it was so close the third umpire gave Maxwell the benefit of the doubt, and he continued on his merry way.
But take nothing away from Maxwell, he was the only show in town with the exception England’s Dawid Malan’s 50, and Australian opener D’Arcy Short’s 30.
The rest of the Australian batting was dismal to say the least.
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Skipper David Warner’s drought continued with a second ball dismissal for four, the much boomed Chris Lynn lost his castle to a second ball duck, Marcus Stoinis made six, Travis Head six, and Alex Carey remained five out out.
There was nothing to get excited about when five Australian batsmen could only manage 21 between them
But winning T20s is something of a rarity for the Australians, so beggars can’t be choosers.
What’s even rarer is winning T20s back-to-back, having disposed of the Kiwis in the opening round at the SCG.
The Australians will be put to the test again on Saturday night at the MCG, but they can’t count on another one-man show with the bat.
In the meantime, Maxwell fans, and the man himself, can celebrate a ‘Maximum’ explosive dig that kept the every spectator in their seats until the final ball.
Needing just one to win with Maxwell on 97, he did exactly what he wanted to do – and what the crowd expected.
He smashed a six.
Rob
Guest
Handscomb is not up to Test standard. Had a great run last year but has technical issues that are regularly exposed as fatal flaws against top quality bowling IMO.
JohnB
Guest
I'm going to disagree that you can play yourself in normally through to double figures in 20/20, pretty much ever. Maybe if your team loses 4 or 5 wickets very early and you just have to salvage something. Short of that, no. 50 over cricket there's a lot more permutations and there are certainly players in or recently in the Australian side (M Marsh, Stoinis, Faulkner) who follow the if you can get in you can score very quickly later approach. That approach isn't without its own risks - you'll find lots of examples in old and not so old scorecards of the bloke who gets himself in, starts to accelerate - and gets out immediately. As I say, I don't advocate Maxwell trying to swing the bat from the outset. There'll be situations where he (like any other batsman coming in in similar circumstances) needs to aim to bat through or where he has been given such a good start by the batsmen before him he can afford to take a little more time to get in. I do think it's better for the team that someone like Maxwell who is capable of scoring quickly early tries to do so - if nothing else, that lets other players like the Marshes or Stoinis' start a little slower.
Bakkies
Guest
Neither Buttler's and Roy's catches were out. Yes hands may have been under the ball however it still can't brush the ground. There is a clip on You Tube featuring the best of Kerry O'Keeffe. In the clip they show footage of a 'catch' that KP claimed in the 2005 ODI series in England which clearly brushed the ground.
Rob
Guest
Smith is OCD and super intense, Maxwell is cavalier and easy going. Not sure those 2 personality traits mix well. They need to accept they are differently wired because it's a terrible shame that both can't be producing in the best Australian Team.
marfu
Guest
Yes selectors have a lot to answer for not that they would ever admit their mistake. I am really enjoying Maxwell making them look more and more stupid but fear that it will get worse for them in SA. Commentators are embarrassingly bad especially Pietersen, Clarke and Healy.
Mitch
Guest
Warner Short Lynn Maxwell Stoinis Carey Agar Nair (if cleared to bowl) Coulter Nile/Starc Tye Stanlake Extras- Finch,Khawaja,S marsh,Ahmed,Laughlin,Wildermuth
Ironmonger
Guest
I wonder how much of Maxwells exclusion is down to a personality clash with Smith. Maybe Smith doesn’t like sharing the spot light? Maybe there’s some history there that we are not being told about? The mind boggles...I reckon there is something the general public are not being told...
Ironmonger
Guest
Spot on
danno
Guest
Maxwell better than Warner. Doesn't tow the PC line. Selectors have wasted his talent.
Rob
Guest
I think Maxwell is a fantastic cricketer but you're dead right about the 2 brain farts he got away with last night. I was really annoyed with the stupidity of the Roy one. He needs to bat at 3 or 4 so he becomes use to batting for more than 50 balls on a regular basis. Those shots are from a bloke who has spent to long batting with the tail.
Rob
Guest
Maxwell is a player that likes to be in the action and if he gets a catch or wicket in the field his confidence can be transferred into his batting. Mitchell Johnson, Doug Walters, Sobers, Botham. Good cricketers usually respond to being in the game with both bat and ball. Warner did the right thing throwing the ball to Maxwell for a couple of overs.
Mitch
Guest
Short Warner Lynn Maxwell Stoinis Carey Agar Nair (if cleared to bowl) Laughlin/Starc Tye Stanlake Extras Coulter Nile(when fit) Turner,Khawaja,Ahmed This side gives great bowling variety and batting depth.
PeteB
Guest
Ball clearly hit the grass - that’s NOT OUT !!
zenn
Guest
Maxwell's Victorian teammates don't have an issue with his training...or does training now mean pumping iron and jogging miles rather than refining skills?
zenn
Guest
Maxwell's Victorian teammates don't have an issue with his training...or does training now mean pumping iron and jogging miles rather than refining skills?
anon
Roar Pro
Federer can also be considered a relatively lazy trainer. What works for Smith (fidgeting, anxious at the crease, high intensity), might not work for Maxi. Smith was loathe to bowl Maxi in India. I remember one Test where he put Maxi on for two overs while he bowled Lyon into the ground. Lyon ended up getting a blister on his finger. Smith simply hates the guy.
John Erichsen
Roar Guru
Lynn's first class figures compare favourably with most of those spoken about for test contention. Perhaps, Lynn isn't the only person who isn't watching things closely enough before having a swipe...
David Lord
Expert
Lazy trainer anon.
David Lord
Expert
Not one sane person concerned supporter.
jameswm
Guest
How about an ounce of game smarts? Willey bowls innines to right handers, had the new ball, and the previous ball swung a fair bit too. Maybe don't try to hit the cover off your 2nd ball when the white ball is swinging and it's not there to hit? Maybe use your noggin?