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Glenn Maxwell's highlights don't paper over his failings

Australia's Glenn Maxwell. (Mark Nolan/Getty Images)
Expert
9th July, 2018
43

Two days ago, the heading ‘Maxwell is a T20 treasure for Australia‘ caught my eye.

It was written by colleague Ronan O’Connell who has been a cricket expert on The Roar since 2013.

I’ve always enjoyed and respected his views on the grand old game, but reading such a glowing tribute about the ODI and T20 batsman who rarely lives up to his wonderfully-gifted ability demanded a full read.

Ronan rated Maxwell as the second best Australian T20 batsman after the skipper Aaron Finch, a rating that also demanded my attention.

Ronan added – “Go online after Maxwell is dismissed in the shortest format and you’ll see an endless stream of comments deriding or condemning the Victorian.

“The batsmen in demand in T20 leagues throughout the world are not those who consistently chip in with handy knocks of 45 off 35 balls, but rather those who occasionally win a game off their own blade with a ballistic knock of something like 70 from 35 balls”.

Glenn Maxwell Australia cricket

Ronan further added he would rather have a batsman who averages 28 with a strike rate of 170 than one who averages 60 with a strike rate of 125.

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That last comment made me go digging for what Glenn Maxwell has done in his T20 career compared to not only Finch, but other T20 batsmen I enjoy watching like Virat Kohli, Kane Williamson and Alex Hales.

But before that transpires, runs are the currency for winning T20 matches. Without runs, the bowlers start behind the eight-ball and must defend.

So my stats cover all the requirements Ronan has referred to, in every case.

Let’s start with Aaron Finch, who has regained the world number one ranking.

He’s batted 42 times to average 45.60 with a strike rate of 161.53.

Finch has scored two tons – 156 and 172, the new individual world record.

90s – 0 40s – 7
80s – 2 30s – 5
70s – 2 20s – 1
60s – 2 10s – 8
50s – 3 Single figures – 10
Ducks – 0
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Finch has scored less than a half-century 31 times from 42 visits, or 74 per cent.

Now Glenn Maxwell, ranked sixth in the world after 43 visits, also with two centuries 145*, and 103*, averaging 32.94 with a massive 163.31 strike rate.

90s – 0 40s – 3
80s – 0 30s – 4
702 – 2 20s – 9
60s – 1 10s – 8
50s – 1 Single figures – 12
Ducks – 1

Maxwell has failed to reach the half-century 37 times from 43 visits, or 86 per cent.

With respect to Ronan’s glowing tribute of a strike rate of 163.31, Maxwell is expected to contribute runs, but he clearly isn’t pulling his weight in that vital department by failing to crack 50 for 86 per cent of the time.

Of the five batsmen I’ve researched, Maxwell’s percentage is the worst.

Virat Kohli, ranked 15th in the world has batted 58 times, averaging 48.88 with a strike rate of 136.22, but has never cracked three figures.

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90s – 1 40s – 6
80s – 3 30s – 4
70s – 4 20s- 14
60s – 3 10s – 5
50s – 7 Single figures – 8
Ducks – 3

So Kohli has failed to reach the half century 40 of 58 visits, or just 69 per cent, yet he’s ranked 15th, and Maxwell sixth.

Kiwi Kane Williamson, ranked 16th, has batted 49 times averaging 31.33, a strike rate of 120.95 with no centuries.

New Zealand's Kane Williamson

90s – 0 40s – 4
80s – 0 30s – 5
70s – 2 20s – 10
60s – 1 10s – 10
50s – 1 Single figures – 10
Ducks – 2

Williamson has failed to crack a half century in 41 of 49 visits, or 84 per cent.

Alex Hales is ranked number nine in the world, has batted 56 times, averaging 32.67 with a strike rate of 136.25.

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The Englishman has scored one ton – 116*.

90s – 2 40s – 7
80s – 1 30s – 7
70s – 0 20s – 8
60s – 3 10s – 8
50s – 2 Single figures – 13
Ducks – 4

Hales has failed to reach the half century 47 from 56 visits, or 84 per cent.

Summarising – Kohli has the best average 48.88, Finch 45.60, Maxwell 32.94, Hales 32.67, and Williamson 31.33.

The best strike rate – Maxwell 163.31, Finch 161.53, Hales 136.25, Kohli 136.22, and Williamson 120.95.

The most 50-pluses – Kohli 18, Finch 11, Hales 9, Williamson 8, Maxwell 6.

The worst percentage below 50 – Maxwell 86, Williamson 84, Hales 84, Finch 74, Kohli 69.

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My thanks to Ronan for his column, or I would never have researched those stats.

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