There was a time when Glenn Maxwell was the next big thing in Australian ODI cricket, a blistering run scorer, switch hit master and the biggest entertainer in Australia. However, it’s time we realise that this time has come and gone.
Maxwell’s ODI career is a massive fall from grace.
At the age of 30, he should be in the prime of his career and sending shivers down opponent’s spines, yet the only spines that tingle are the shudders of Australian fans when he gets out for another low score.
Having been provided Mitchell Marsh levels of persistence by the selectors in his 85 ODIs, he boasts one century in 76 innings which came over three and a half years ago.
With a career average of 32, it is a testament to how much of the Glenn Maxwell image is well and truly hype. So, why he is consistently selected for the national side is a surprise to me.
It could be arguably excusable if he was in red-hot form in the JLT one day cup, but alas, to no surprise, he is not.
In his seven innings, he scored 196 runs, with one 50 and an average of 28. Certainly, these figures do not warrant selection for the national side.
It also means that statistics wise, there are 18 other batsmen in better form that Maxwell.
These players include the likes of Callum Ferguson, Josh Phillipe, Joe Burns, Sam Heazlett and George Bailey, all of which I, like many other fans, would prefer to be in the side over Maxwell.
Glenn Maxwell. (AAP Image/Mal Fairclough)
People may argue that his bowling makes him the complete package as a rounded, versatile cricket who adds immense skills in all departments.
Yet he has bowled a dismal 11 overs in the last two years (18 games) and didn’t take a wicket in that time.
What makes it worse is he lacks the ability to dry up and add pressure at one end, going at over seven runs an over since the start of 2017.
Additionally, in the side that played last week there are two other spin bowling options in Travis Head and D’Arcy Short, not to forget the option of selecting Ashton Agar, who is more than handy with the bat and ball.
For the sake of the future of Australian Cricket, it is time for ‘The Big Show’ to be shown the door.
Maxwell Charlesworth
Roar Rookie
I believe Ive been quite resonable with my comments, this is by no means a smear piece on Glenn Maxwell, simply that I think his time has come and gone and Australia should look to playing their other players who are in form and can complete a similar role. If you've read my other comments, you will see I either respond to other points made by fellow Roarers, supported with statistics to support my claims and pointing out the facts when they claim I am uninformed. At no point have I said I want Head instead of Maxwell, infact I stated that Ferguson, Heazlett and Harris would come into the side for me, I simply corrected the statement that a commenter said on Head's (and Finch's) strike rate. Counting up the commenters there are 8 people that agree with me and 5 that don't, obviously the argument has more than some relevance. Thanks for the input though mate, although may I suggest checking your facts before making such a blatantly ignorant remark.
Ashan D
Roar Pro
I read all your comments trying to prove your point and I'm sorry all your arguments fall flat on the belly. Each comment you make contradicts with the others. You are just a naysayer who wants one of our best and trump card in next WC out of the team. You want Head instead of Maxwell. I will not say anything else. And to everyone else there is no point arguing with this guy since he is doing all this intentionally to get Maxi out of the team. So let's just ignore attention seekers like this. Move on people.
Adam Bagnall
Roar Guru
Excellent point. Maxwell does not have the ability to rebuild an innings and show patience if we lose early wickets, he is a one trick T20 slogger and nothing more. For that reason he should be restricted to that for of cricket which is little more than what we play in the backyard
Adam Bagnall
Roar Guru
He is a batsmen so he needs to score runs, and yet he rarely does. The other day he hit two early fours then got out cheaply. Seems to sum him up, all show and very little substance
Kopa Shamsu
Guest
I understand what you are saying here. But contrary you need to consider the fact that Maxwell was never there to do innings building. He was there to do a specific job which he was doing quite well until selectors got the weird idea of trying him up in order. Now you can say how will he perform even in his specific role if he gets out at 1st or 2nd delivery? Answer is he did not. When his role was specified he was doing pretty well (say wc15) Specific role requires specific mindset. I hardly can remember any 2 ODI Aussie selectors have chooses same team in last 1 year. Aussie selectors are not taking their job seriously, they are simply playing around with the team as childs do with toys. Personally I would give him 1 series by defining a specific role for him in a suitable position (say 6) to see if he can do it. If he can't then he is a failure & we should go your way. What say? For wc19 Aussie should stick to this -> Finch Khawaja/Renshaw Patterson Smith Stoinis Maxwell Carey Starc/Behrendorff Hoff Cummins Zampa/Agar Head Handscomb Ncn If Warner comes back in team in place of khawaja/Renshaw then You need to drop 1 of Stoinis/ Maxwell to add head/ Handscomb
Derek Murray
Roar Rookie
I’m thinking what you’re thinking is spot on. I think
William Tacey
Roar Rookie
Everyone has an opinion about Glen Maxwell including myself. Glen has over the years shown he can play at the top level but it also seems he finds a way to throw the chance to cement his place in the National Cricket team by first opening his mouth or some well credential reporters go on about why he was dropped or why he should always be in the three formats of cricket. Well to those who think a certain player or players should be picked Glen has shown why he gets dropped from time to time because he thinks he can do anything when batting instead of just batting in a sensible way, instead he has to bring out party tricks which in most cases will eventually bring about his downfall. People go on about his strike rate, that's OK if he bats out the remaining overs left in the game when he reaches the crease everyone can have a high strike rate if they get out for a low score and have only faced X amount of balls faced.
Maxwell Charlesworth
Roar Rookie
If you read my comment I say in the year of 2018. All the figures are correct for either the 2018 JLT or 2018 ODIs. I am simply listing players that you said were hard to come by and have those attributes.
Brasstax
Guest
Since you say that Mxwell has been given Mitchell Marsh like chances then he should be promoted to VC then and not be shown the door, right?
Cadfael
Roar Guru
In the first ODI he had a strike rate of 137 which is very good except that it was 11 runs from 8 balls. this game, 15 from 19 balls. ASs was pointed out, his JLT scores weren't anything to write home about. Have to agree with MC. Time to forget thye "big show" and or the selectors to look at picking 6 batsmen, a keeper and four bowlers with the batsmen providing 10 overs between them.
Maxwell Charlesworth
Roar Rookie
Yep, one of the best in the short formats
Matt H
Roar Guru
Watto was a one day gun - definitely fullfilled his potential. Averaged over 40 with a strike rate over 90. Took 168 wickets at an economy rate under 5. That is a serious career right there. Of course in tests, he was mediocre.
Matt H
Roar Guru
S Marsh's strike rate in ODI's is 80 NSN's is 76 Stoinis' is 101 Short's is 83 Maxwell's is 121 If you are talking about JLT stats: Harris, Heazlett, Milenko, Phillipe, Lynn, Hazleatt, Sams all had strike rates in the this year's JLT that are lower than Maxwell's career strike rate at ODI level - so on smaller grounds against lesser bowling without going overseas, they didn't match him. To address others in your list: - NCN was one innings of 18 - Max Bryant opens the batting - Harris opens - Short opens - Phillipe opens - Lynn is already in the team as a middle order bat and averaging a princely 15 with a 70 strike rate - Wade averaged 26 compared to Maxwell's career average of 32 at a higher level - Hazleatt has potential - They were Sams' first four career innings. He bats at 8. - Stoinis does Maxwell's job and they are in the team together - Milenko's strike rate was 13 points lower than Maxwell's career strike rate at a higher level. Milenko's career is an average of 28 and a strike rate of 89. I'm thinking you are starting from the premise that you want Maxwell out and then you are trying to put an argument in place to back up your opinion, rather than looking at what the facts tell you and then forming your opinion.
Maxwell Charlesworth
Roar Rookie
All good except the vast majority of what you said is incorrect. 3 out of the last 5 times Head batted he passed 50. All in England. Perth was 7 games ago, not 5 and If you go 8 games back Head scored a 96. Since we are going back to the end of ashes ODIs, Finch made 2 hundreds back to back, and followed it up immediately with a 50. 4 games later, in the series you are saying Maxwell did more than Finch, Finch scored another 100. Fine, you are technically correct that Maxwells (albeit minimal amount of) runs were scored at a faster rate, the strike rate difference is less 3 between Glenn And Finch. And get this, Travis Heads strike rate in the series you are referring to is actually faster than that of Maxwells.
Maxwell Charlesworth
Roar Rookie
Stoinis hasnt played 85 ODIs for one. And two, I'm not saying he is the only one to blame, others are also failing, but Maxwells time is up, too many chances not enough success.
Maxwell Charlesworth
Roar Rookie
First choice would be Callum Ferguson, Heazlett and Harris are both options too and Bailey if you want proper experience.
jameswm
Roar Guru
he can't? Did you actually look at any of his stats? Last game was the SA game in Perth where he scored 11 off 8, looking comfortable, and Head, Finch and Short managed 6 between the 3 of them. Lynn and Carey scored at a S/R of 46. NCN batted better than anyone, but the conditions were easier then. Game before England scored a cool 481, with both their nos. 2 and 3 scoring 140 off 92. None of our guys got going. Head got 51 and Stoinis 44, but Short, SMarsh, Finch and Maxwell all scored between 15-24. Game before that in Cardiff - England 342, we got remotely close with 304, Stoinis and Finch failed, Head and Short 20, SMarsh 131 but ate up 116 balls, and Maxwell 31 coming in at 6 after 20 overs. Game before that at The Oval we batted first and managed a paltry 214. Maxwell came in at 4 for 70 off 16 overs - again - and scored 62 off 64 and solely responsible for us putting up something moderately competitive. Head failed, Finch, SMarsh and Stoinis 19-24, Paine batted at 5 for some odd reason. Game before that in Perth - we bowled England out for 259, and only managed 247 in reply. Warner, Head, Smith and MMarsh each managed 12-22, Stoinis 87, and Maxwell (coming in after 24 overs) scored 34. I've gone back 5 games and he's made useful contributions, more than Head or Finch or Short, and at a faster strike rate. Short isn't a good enough player to succeed at that level. Maxwell is better than Head opening, accumulating, or blasting. Finch is a bit out of touch but should open or bat 3.
jameswm
Roar Guru
He played too early on an on drive, the ball after copping a nasty knock on the finger. He was pushing at one, not having a random slog to cow corner. Stoinis did similar but worse, so where's the criticism of him?
jameswm
Roar Guru
Who then?
Maxwell Charlesworth
Roar Rookie
I wasnt saying we should emulate England's style, this is from another comment where I listed the players with similar stats and abilities to Maxwell around the world, of which, England have 4.