As a cricket fan there isn’t a more frustrating sight than watching Glenn Maxwell throw away the incredible talent he possesses.
Despite multiple chances provided to him in all formats by the selectors, Maxwell hasn’t been able to leave his stamp in any of them. He was dropped from the Test side not that long ago, and even though there were lots of hue and cry regarding his omission in the current team set-up, it was an inevitable occurrence.
The question, though, is whether he is still the right choice for the middle order – the same middle order that was the major reason for the UAE debacle last month. The top order, which will be bolstered by the return of Matt Renshaw, is all fine considering the Aussies will be playing at home against India, but the middle order in the UAE comprising Shaun Marsh, Mitchell Marsh and Marnus Labuschagne just did not stand up to be counted.
The Marsh brothers, who have had a wonderful time in the Shield games so far, looked clueless in UAE against Mohammad Abbas and the spinners, and young Marnus Labuschagne looked more like a bowling all-rounder than a middle order bat on his first tour to Asia with the national side.
So with just three weeks to go before the Indian series begins, the Australian middle order conundrum is until well and truly alive. Glenn Maxwell, who has had a horror run in the shorter format, is one of the popular choices for the middle order spot.
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Maxwell has a good first-class record, but his performances have been patchy when it comes to Tests. He has played all his 14 Test innings in Asia and has failed to get past 20 in eight of them. Even though that can happen against the spinners in Asia, the statistic that will bother Australia is that of the six times he got starts, he was able to convert only one of them to a score of over 50. This has been Maxwell’s problem in ODIs as well, which may cause a lot of issues for an already struggling Australian middle order.
(AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi)
Australia need to look at someone like Jason Sangha or Peter Handscomb for the middle order role. Sangha provides an exciting option as he is not only a good young batter but can also bowl competent leg spin, which gives the team a good sixth bowling option.
Peter Handscomb, though, has done extremely well this season so far, scoring 200 runs for Victoria at an average of 50. There are other options like Joe Burns, Alex Doolan, Jake Lehmann and Tom Cooper, who all have had an excellent start to the Sheffield Shield season.
Shaun Marsh, who had a horror series against Pakistan in UAE, has looked brilliant since returning home. His ODI form has been brilliant for a while, but his Shield performances in the few games he has played have been stellar as well. He might hold on to his spot in the Test XI against India starting early next month.
Australia need to plan, and their horses for courses selection so far has yielded poor results for the Test team. With Renshaw returning at the top, the batting order of Aaron Finch, Usman Khawaja, Travis Head makes a solid top four for the home Tests at least.
A batting line-up which comprises Mitch Marsh batting at No.6 would need a solid batter at No.5, and I don’t think Glenn Maxwell provides that for Australia now.
Dart
Guest
Glenn McGrath got Brian Lara out for fun.
John Erichsen
Roar Guru
With scarce pickings and Finch's decent return on the UAE pitches, Aaron is safe. Although, if the test wickets have some life, there is considerable risk in playing him as an opener when the ball is moving around. Hopefully, his lack of T20 runs doesn't impact his confidence leading into the first test.
Rob
Guest
Sorry 13 years. My point is Maxwell can win games and if players are given roles such as Renshaw soaking up deliveries S. Marsh batting solid at 5 and Labushange or Head offering support and variation to Lyon. An aggressive Maxwell at 3 or 4 could put his team in a dominant position. Kohli, Richards, Ponting, and Petersien are all fearless stroke makers that always looked to intimidate opposition bowling attacks IMO.
Rob
Guest
Yet you regard Johnathon Thurston the best Player to play the game of Rugby League? JT 20th in the NRL for Kicking and worst defender of any 7? 1 premiership in 18 years. Is he any different to Maxwell as a match winner?
Rob
Guest
The pitch conditions and bowling attacks can also have an effect on averages this early in the season. Renshaw and Burns just played Starc, Cummins, Lyon, Hazelwood? Shaun and Mitch Marsh have scored a lot of runs on flat decks against average attacks in recent times?
John Erichsen
Roar Guru
Greg Chappell had also just scored 368 runs from his previous 4 test innings before his first duck in that run of low scores. Regarding Maxwell, his Indian test century should have been regarded with greater value than it was. If we ignore his double hundred because of the attack and the flat pitch, there are plenty of other big scores in recent years that need to be also ignored
John Erichsen
Roar Guru
Good point Don. No value in that at all.
John Erichsen
Roar Guru
No dominance but a reasonable return in Maxwell's first season batting up the order for his state side, as part of his new, matured focus to red ball cricket. Perhaps if CA had allowed him to play county Cricket, he might have some more recent good 4 day form
John Erichsen
Roar Guru
Most likely because of the stupid scheduling that has him playing 20 over and 50 over cricket instead of shield games to press his claims. Another reason could be that our selectors don't value test hundreds made in India. Given how rare they are, one would think you could at least get a look at a test on familiar home soil after that.
Spanner
Roar Rookie
Why isnt he getting a game then ?
CricGuru
Guest
I've gotta be honest with you, Rob (on social media??"?), but I'be never liked Glen Maxwell aka "The Big Show". Precisely because so many guys work harder than him, and precisely because so many other guys have better figures than him. Except at the moment, not many players can rival him. So why does he always get the short end of the straw??? I mean, let's look at the likely line up of the first Test team. Aaron Finch hasn't played a long form game since the UAE, Maxwell hasn't played a long form game since well before then. Yet Mitchel Marsh gets (demoted?) from the 1 day side to play Shield cricket so he has a long form century since the UAE debacle??? And the Test team will be promoted as being the best of the best in the appropriate format??? I don't get it, I mean If Mitchell Marsh isn't a lock for the World Cup, then who is? He is probably the best 1 day player we have at the moment, in the mould of Shane Watson, although more of a bowler than a batsman. Yet he is a lock for the First Test as a batsman??? Who are these selectors getting their commands from??? I t is like watching a computer continually spit out wrong answers from a correct program.
MT
Guest
Maxwell will never play test cricket again. Those match fixing allegations from last year's India series has really hurt him. No one from the Australian set up will ever admit it, but its the only logical reason behind their constant goal post shifting when the subject of his non-selection comes up.
Adz Sportz
Roar Guru
T20 form should NEVER be considered when it comes to test cricket. I'd like to see Maxwell play more Shield games, make more hundred and show more consistency in the longer format.
Adz Sportz
Roar Guru
I will never understand peoples thought process in regards to thinking Maxwell would make a decent test batsman. Sure, he'll have his moments, maybe score a rare hundred once every 10-15 tests, but I would never expect consistancy or reliability from him.
Justin
Guest
Maxwell would most certainly have been in my top 6 in those most unusual circumstance, he appears to have really been messed around by selectors. He must really be poorly behaved off field. Others have already countered the most ridiculous comments , i.e. "if you remove his 278...."
josh
Roar Rookie
The beauty of sports writing. Maxwell has top scored for Australia in both T20 games. I k now its "only" T20. But he's doing the job the likes of say Finch isn't.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
If you are talking about Shield innings that save or win games, why would you leave Mitch out? He has done that twice in 3 innings this Shield season.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Yep...hence the correction of the omission.
Rob
Guest
This is putting your criticism into perspective. 2014/15 Shield. v NSW (94, 127). Feb 20-23rd v SA (119, 4). Dec 14 v WA (24) 2015. WC. He was 3rd ON AGGREGATE AVERAGING (64) just behind SMITH (67) and WARNER (49) 2015/16 Shield v QLD (8no), v WA (98) highest scorer in match?, v WA (0, 18no), v SA (62,26), (79,63) Most runs in Match? 2016/17 Shield v QLD (81) 2nd most runs in match? v SA (6,29) Averaging 59. 2017 3rd Test v India 104. 2nd BEST BATTING AVERAGE 39.75 BEHIND SMITH IN SERIES. (S.Marsh 18.8, M.Marsh 12, V. Kohli 9.2) 2017/18 Shield 15 innings at 50.5. 2nd BEST AVERAGE IN COMP. HIGHEST INDIVIDUAL SCORE in comp 278 v NSW.
CricGuru
Guest
Regarding the 6 incumbents, I feel Head has been selected as a project player - a young guy who the selectors feel can make the grade, and made a good 87 in his last shield match, so looms as a likely keeper. Marnus, on the other hand, has a terrible first class average and has been poor so far in the Shield. Personally I can't see how he was selected for the UAE over Maxwell. Finch has been in terrible form since the Tests in the UAE, and I read an article where I think it was NCN said he hadn't been hitting them well in the nets. So I'm doubtful if he should / will be selected. Top 6 prediction: Khawaja Marcus Harris or D Hughes SOS Head M. Marsh Handscomb or Wade If I was Maxi, I would be very keen to knock up a hundred or two in the next few rounds of the Shield, as there could be an opening if a few of the boys fail and Oz are 2-0 down.