There’s nothing more exasperating in sport than watching the likes of Glenn Maxwell and Marcus Stoinis consistently butcher their superb natural talent with low percentage hero shots.
Both were blessed to be born with acute ball-sense, the ultimate launching pad to succeed at the top level with bat, ball and in the field.
Maxwell consistently excels in the field as one of the world’s best, but lets himself down with bat and ball.
Stoinis isn’t as flash as Maxwell in the field, but is well above the average, yet treads the same path with bat and ball.
The positive examples are breath-taking.
Maxwell has scored one Test and one ODI century – the latter will live long in the memory.
The Test ton was at Ranchi against India in March last year with 102 off 185 with just nine fours, and two sixes, but in his 13 other visits to the Test crease he’s managed just one 40, two 30s, two 20s, three more in double figures, and five in single figures to average only 26.07.
Way below his natural ability.
His ODI ton was 102 off 53 with 10 fours and four sixes against Sri Lanka in March 2015 at the SCG during the World Cup. The effort earned Maxwell man-of-the-match. He has a career average of 32.02.
Stoinis has yet to play a Test, but certainly has the natural ability to do so – and the baggy greens need them both.
Stoinis’ moment of glory was at Eden Park in only his second ODI innings, one that rates among the all-time greats.
Marcus Stoinis should be a regular in the team. (AAP Image/SNPA, Ross Setford)
It was an unbeaten 146 off just 117 with nine fours, and 11 sixes, he even had the Kiwi supporters on their feet saluting.
Stoinis came to the crease with Australia 6-67 and done for all money, chasing the New Zealand’s 286.
The big guns hadn’t fired with Aaron Finch (4), Travis Head (5), Shaun Marsh (16), Peter Handscomb (7), Maxwell (20), and Sam Heazlett (4) back in the shed, but James Faulkner (25), and Pat Cummins (36), supported Stoinis as he cut loose.
It was an astonishing innings that failed by six runs when last man Josh Hazlewood went to sleep at the non-striker’s end and was ridiculously run out.
But it proved what Stoinis could do, and even though he has a very healthy ODI average of 42.41, there has been only five half-centuries among his 20 other digs, mixed with six single figures.
Not in keeping with his natural ability, despite a career strike rate of 98.22.
While Stoinis trails Maxwell as a world-class fieldsman, he’s a better bowler than Maxwell as he proved in that Eden Park loss with 10 overs in capturing 3-49 of nagging medium pace.
Glenn Maxwell of Australia bats. (Photo by Mark Nolan/Getty Images)
But all too often Stoinis bowls “please hit me” half-trackers, which is in keeping with not living up to his natural ability in all departments.
That’s exactly what Maxwell and Stoinis share in common, and it’s a tragic waste.
Fingers crossed they can both realise their God-given talents sooner than later for the benefit of Australian, and world cricket as time is running out with Glenn Maxwell 30 years and 71 days old, Marcus Stoinis 29 and 130.
Gus O
Roar Rookie
Yep, Marsh has two failures with the bat in the most recent shield match, then another failure in the subsequent T20… then selected to bat #6 for Australia. Selection ahead of Maxwell not based on current/recent form or runs on the board. Astonishing selection.
Train Without A Terminus
Guest
Figured out the puzzle of your shoelaces yet sleuth?
Bob
Guest
Please if you are going to confuse white and red ball cricket, at least criticise in context. Maxwell and Stoinis have barely be given the chance to play red ball matches this season, so why complain about their shot selection in a t20 tournament? I think you will find Maxwell was almost the best FC cricket batsman last season- so how is he not fulfilling his potential? As for M Marsh- he barely bowls these days and is slow in the field- he probably needs to be treated as a batsman these days.
Rob
Guest
I believe 4 of the bowlers in that NSW side had represented Australia at Test and ODI level. How many Australians have scored a 100 against India in India recently?
mrrexdog
Roar Guru
In Maxwell’s first test he batted 8 both innings In his second test he batted at 7, but was pushed up to open in the second innings In his third test he batted 3&4 and was given a licence to be aggressive. In his fourth test he made a century in India In his fifth test he made 45 in the second innings (incorrectly given out) In his sixth test he went down fighting while batting with the teal In his seventh test he hit the winning runs.
Ben
Roar Rookie
It was the same bowling attack that Harris, got 9 and finch got 76. None of the players from both teams passes 80
Warnie's Love Child
Guest
Anon, John Dyson played exactly 30 Tests for an average of 26.6. But he was useful at hanging around and tiring out the bowlers, something Marsh cannot do.
anon
Roar Pro
Shouldn't this article be about Mitch Marsh? He averages 26 after 30 Tests. No player in the history of this country has been given an armchair ride into the national side like Mitch Marsh has been given. Maxwell has played 7 Tests, none of them in Australia. Averages 26. Mitch Marsh overseas averages 20.
Simoc
Guest
Yes you need to get many centuries to get in the team if your name is Maxwell and smile nicely at the selectors if your name is Marsh. Greg Chappell has failed in every job since being a great test batsman. These selectors were put there by the hopelessly run previous administration. Time they were moved on (not Langar).
Cadfael
Roar Guru
Don't forget that the big score against NSW was when they were without Starc, Cunnibs, Hazelwood and Lyon.
Cadfael
Roar Guru
His first class stats aren't too bad for his batting, far better than his test, ODI or T20 batting stats. 44+ for his bowling isn't the best.
Rob
Guest
I thought form and runs would be the only currency Langer was interested in? Have I missed a game in the last month that M.Marsh has scored a 50? I know he hasn’t scored a test 50 in his last 11 bats. Now that’s really kicking the selection down isn’t it.
VivGilchrist
Roar Rookie
Thanks for that insightful comment.
VivGilchrist
Roar Rookie
Please check Maxwells stats. You may want to retract your statement.
VivGilchrist
Roar Rookie
David, in the case of Maxwell the selectors are 100% to blame.
Ben
Roar Rookie
Sorry I meant Maxwell. Stoinis I agree shouldn’t get picked until he improves his average.
Chris Love
Roar Guru
It really is time for these selectors to be sacked. Maxwell showed in India he has the game and what it takes between the ears to succeed at test level. Yet he to date hasn’t has a single test at home. Yet he outperformed Mitch Marsh last week and was unluckily run out on 57 and was not out in the second innings. On the same deck M Marsh had two failures yet he is back in for Boxing Day. Going by history that MCG must be another road for their favourite son to come back and score a ton on.
Sanjay Poojar
Guest
But no one to beat Virat India
Cadfael
Roar Guru
Stoinis' dirst class batting average is just over 33 and his first class bowling average just over 42. Not really test standard for either.
Ben
Roar Rookie
He is averaging over 40 in first class so his stats are better than everyone in the current team besides khawaja and s marsh. All he needs is half the opportunity that the marsh brothers got.