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”.
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.
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 |
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.
| 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.
| 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.
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.
My thanks to Ronan for his column, or I would never have researched those stats.
Adz Sportz
Roar Guru
Glen Maxwell produces 1 good performance out every 5 games. He's never been consistent enough to be an international cricketer
Paul D
Roar Guru
https://www.theroar.com.au/2018/03/21/meet-jack-scott-holder-two-unbreakable-sporting-records/ One of my all-time favourite comment threads on this place.
Harvey Wilson
Roar Rookie
I feel the real issue is that batting in the upper order and being a more senior player of the team, Maxwell doesn't give any thought to the situation and more is expected of him. He only thinks about slogging. Slog this, slog that...when he gets out it is always going to look bad. There is a time for slogging and it isnt always from ball 1.
Eddie Otto
Roar Guru
Interesting article David. I think its an unfair comparison to compare Maxwell inT20 Cricket to Finch, Hales and Kohli who all either open or bat in the Top 3. When your coming in with 7-8 overs to go your never going to average as much as an opener in T20 cricket. You have 5 men patrolling the fence as well and don't have the advantage of the powerplay where there are only 2 fielders outside the ring. Strike rate is very important. I have long thought Maxwell might be better further up the order given more responsibility. However I do agree he can be a frustrating player at times that probably has not reached the highest his natural talent deserve.
abhinav pancholi
Roar Rookie
what a lovely piece...this is how stats ought to be used ! a very good lesson ...
Pedro The Fisherman
Roar Rookie
I agree. It makes a change from the usual Maxwell Excuses and Pump-Up that we get on here.
DingoGray
Roar Guru
Well said.
DingoGray
Roar Guru
Old David Lord being consistent again and playing well in his strongest format, Bash Glenn Maxwell The comparison of Maxwell to Finch is laughable. Even the comparison to Kohli and Williamson. The other trio are in the side as top order batsmen, compared to Maxwell who’s in the middle order / all rounder category. How about doing some analysis of guys who do similar roles, bat between 4-6, bowl an over or two (never the full 4) and who is an absolutely brilliant fielder. Don’t cherry pick stars for you own agenda, which has always been to put the boot into Maxwell
Rats
Guest
I completely get what David is saying.. And I kind of agree with it.. Look at R Sharma's innings the other day - 100 from 56 balls at a strike rate of 178.. Maxwell is capable of playing such an innings. To be able to do it in a consistent manner is difficult, but that is what he should try to do. R Sharma played almost every balls on its merit. Maxwell has the technique and ability to do it. Having said that, T20 is a crazy game. There is nothing called right or wrong statistics. It really depends on few factors. R Sharma had the advantage of chasing and knowing what exactly he needed to do. But I have seen him playing similar innings while batting first as well.. Effortless...
Graham
Guest
I agree. You can probably rely on 10 extras in an innings which means you need 180 off the bat to win consistently. Thats a team strike rate of 150 but only an average of 30 if it is done 6 wickets down To dominate the world you need 6 batsmen that average over 30 with a strike rate over 150 as well as having decent bowling. Maxwell fits both criteria so he is 1 of 6 batsmen we need to dominate the world. How many others do we have?
Ben
Roar Rookie
Currently he is number 6 in the world and the best all rounder. You don’t get there by failing each time. He was player of the series in the against England and New Zealand. He won us a game against Zimbabwe.
BrainsTrust
Roar Rookie
And btw i consider finch and maxwell good players in T20, i just find it frustrating how there is one sided commentary on them by some editors vs blatant bias against others like khawaja or shaun marsh who get crucified unfairly. As for maxwell not shaking hands, not sure i am buying maxwells excuse here, it seemed fairly intentional from the footage i saw - but maxwell is a genuine cricketer, so maybe he gets a repreive on this one, but i wouldnt want to see it again
BrainsTrust
Roar Rookie
Good read David, nice to see some balance views instead of the usual love for the roar favourites like finch and maxwell that we always see from ronan
BrainsTrust
Roar Rookie
Good read David, nice to see some balance views instead of the usual love for the roar favourites like finch and maxwell
Krishna Singh
Roar Rookie
Even biggest critics of maxi agreed he talent, but frustration around him not deliver consistent, this why reece say biggest flops in history
Reece
Guest
Maxwell will go down as one of the biggest flops in Australian cricket history. Has the talent but fails nearly ever single time. He has one good series once in a blue and it isn't good enough.
Krishna Singh
Roar Rookie
Rohit very good but kohli real match winner, pressure man who gets over line
Ben
Roar Rookie
Kohli is below Maxwell for his lower strike rate.
RogerTA
Roar Rookie
David, your article, for mine, rather than refuting Ronan's claim actually backs him up. There is a reason he's ranked above the batsmen you're comparing him to and that is his spectular strike rate (and therefore his ability to win a game in a very short space of time).
Matt H
Roar Guru
Where is our current weakness in T20 batting? It is in the ability of our middle order to maintain or up our run rate. We tend to start really well and then get bogged down when the spinners come on and the field spreads. We don't regularly finish off our innings. We have a nice selection of top order batsmen to choose from - Finch, Short, Marsh, Warner, Head, Khawaja, Lynn. But our middle order and lower-middle order struggle repeatedly and they often waste the last 10 over of the innings. The recent solution has been to try to turn our top order batsmen into middle order batsmen - Finch, Carey and Short have all had goes. What we need in a T20 is 3 or at most 4 top order batsmen. I don't care if the others are also really good top order batsmen, if they aren't great at batting in the middle overs, then they should not get picked. We should then pick specialist middle and lower order batsmen. When there are only four overs to go, I would much rather have a guy in to hit 18 from 8 than a guy who can score 40 from 33. So we need to stack our middle order and lower-middle order batting with, surprise, surprise, middle order batting. And now I finally get to the point with Maxwell - these guys should be judged solely on strike rate. Who cares if they average under 40? Assuming the top order does its job, if your last 60 balls are covered by five guys who can hit 30 from 12 you win the game. So from that perspective Maxwell does his job perfectly and we should be searching around for other players who can do that job. They are getting old now, but the prototype of these were Daniel Christian and Ben Cutting. Are they the best batsmen in Australia? Of course not, but they can hit you 26 from 12 and push your run rate up. So who can do that now? I have no idea, but that is what we need to look for. Maybe Ashton turner is one to consider, and young McDermott from the Hurricanes. Stoinis appears to need to build an innings. Mitch Marsh may or may not be able to do it. He can hit a long ball but needs to get his eye in.