There’s no argument Glenn Maxwell and Marcus Stoinis are blessed with tremendous natural batting ability.
So why do they both butcher that talent so often in every format they play on the international circuit?
The answer rests in the 16cms between their ears.
The proof is in cold hard stats.
Maxwell has taken guard 146 times in Tests (14), ODIs (81), and T20Is (51), for four centuries, and 21 half-centuries.
Stoinis has batted 36 times in ODIs (24), and T20Is (12), for one ton, and five half-centuries.
These results are both way below expectations and a tragic waste of talent. They are selling themselves and their country short.
But it’s not too late for Maxwell at 30 and Stoinis (29) to realise their real potential to play important roles in the Ashes series in England, starting August 1 at Edgbaston.
There are four more Sheffield Shield rounds, starting February 23, with Maxwell’s Vics clear leaders on the table.
They clash with Queensland, NSW twice, and South Australia before the final on March 24.
As for Stoinis’ Western Australia, they play NSW, South Australia, Tasmania, and Queensland.
There could be as many as ten digs in store for each to cement a berth in the Ashes squad. They must make the most of proving to the selectors, and the fans, they are responsible batsmen, not just “maybe” entertainers.
It seems they can’t make the transition on their own, so turn to Novak Djokovic, Justin Rose, and Tom Brady for the ultimate proof.
Grab a copy of the Australian Open final, and spend the next two hours and four minutes watching world number one Djokovic decimate world number two Rafael Nadal 6-3 6-2 6-3.
Novak Djokovic of Serbia celebrates (Photo by Scott Barbour/Getty Images)
Nobody could possibly have predicted such one-way traffic, but the Serb made full use of his talent to crush the Spaniard, who had never been beaten in straight sets in a Slam final.
The vital stats were awesome:
Djokovic 34 winners, with only nine unforced errors – Nadal 21-28.
Break point conversions – Djokovic five of eight, Nadal zero of one.
Total points won – Djokovic 89, Nadal 53.
Then pick up footage of world number one golfer Justin Rose winning the Farmers Insurance at Torrey Pines by two shots over Adam Scott, and ten over Tiger Woods, who has won this tournament eight times.
It wasn’t the win that caught the attention, it was a new set of another brand of clubs, including the putter, that would normally take weeks, even months, to get used to – but not Justin Rose.
He dusted Jason Day, Hideki Matsuyama, Rory McIlroy, Jon Rahm, Tony Finau and Patrick Reed as well.
“When you beat a class field on a great venue that satisfies you as a player – it’s a win-and-a-half mentally,” was Rose’s explanation.
And for a third inspiration tune in next weekend for the Super Bowl, and the ninth appearance of New England Patriots quarterback legend Tom Brady.
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (left). (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
At 41 he’s set enough records to fill a book.
Five-time Super Bowl champion, four-time MVP, three-time NFL most valuable player, and 70,514 career yards passing for the Patriots – just some of his all-time records.
Asked about the chances of this Super Bowl being his last game?
“Zero,” he answered. It said it all.
So if Glenn Maxwell, and Marcus Stoinis, can’t get the message of how to make the most of their natural ability from Novak Djokovic, Justin Rose, and Tom Brady, they are a lost cause.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Also at 6 and 7 Maxwell potentially may not have more than 50 balls to face left in the innings. Hard to be smashing centuries with that limited window even if you're seeing it like a beach ball and not getting out.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Hard to make a ton down the order in ODIs too. No guarantee you'll get to face 50 balls even if you don't get out.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Just for reference, Michael Bevan played 232 ODIs and 18 tests, a total of 226 innings, for 6 centuries and 52 half centuries. That's a century every 37.6 innings and a half century every 4.3. Maxwell is 36.5 and 6.9 Maxwell looks pretty good compared to one of our all time great ODI batsmen. Kind of shows that criticizing a batsman played down the order for their lack of conversion to centuries is stupid.
DingoGray
Roar Guru
How about context David? Maxwell continually batting 6 or 7 in ODI Cricket, batting in periods where expectation is to go hard from ball one. Shield Cricket continually be moved around the batting order. Test Cricket only getting opportunities in Asian conditions while guys like Shaun Marsh, Mitch Marsh, Peter Handscomb & Usman Khawaja get extended periods at different stages in Friendly Australian conditions. His treatment has been poor. Look at Travis Head, his FC record doesn't hold a beacon on Maxwell's yet, Head has been backed in and given every opportunity. Give the same opportunities to Maxwell, Travis Head would be nowhere near the team right now.
Tana Mir
Roar Rookie
David, Maxi scored back to wall Test 100 in India, would you care to elaborate how is that not “taking his chance” and on what grounds was he dropped after that solid innings? How can a bloke survive/flourish when his confidence is constantly bashed? After summer of Khawaja, what did we do? We dropped him after 2 poor Tests in Sri Lanka. Maxi comes in the third Test, scores a solid 100, and instead of nourishing his talent, what did we do? You see the pattern!
anon
Roar Pro
I bash the bad ones like Mitch Marsh and Finch. Two guys that should never wear the Baggy Green ever again. They are literally stealing opportunities from far more deserving, far more talented first class players.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Take 5 West Aussies so they can’t win the Shield?
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Anon, you find bashing players to be 'tiresome'? Wow! How come you do it all the time?
Simoc
Guest
I agree with the author. I think Maxwell averaged 14 over the last IPL and got axed so our selectors aren't alone. It's apparent these guys have been worked out by opposing teams meaning they have to change the way they play. Maxwell earnt and deserved the opportunity this season against India at 5 or 6 he always seems to get the short end of the stick; that is he seems to be disliked probably because the selectors are senile old fools. He has demonstrated in the Shield that he can adapt to any situation. Stoinus I don't know apart from the obvious ability. Like Labushchange, others are far more deserving.
Peter Warrington
Guest
Thanks, Steve!
Barney
Roar Rookie
To quote the great Billy Birmingham “p*ss poor effort” that article David
Mitcher
Guest
Ooo eee! Davo, if you took on that point as a bit of a laugh, then bravo for some 5 star troIIing. If you genuinely are arguing that point then please mods, come in and finally wheel this bloke off. He’s cooked.
Alex Carter
Roar Rookie
Awfully researched article. Stoinis plays for WA, Maxwell's stats for Australia are greatly impacted by context - batting low in ODIs, shuffled around in Tests, where he's only played in Asia etc. Meanwhile, both will likely miss the Shield rounds due to white ball national team commitments.
Bunney
Roar Rookie
Ah good, it's not just me that is totally flummoxed about how Tom Brady being a great QB has anything to do with being good at cricket. He's elite, but I'm sure if other sportspeople could be better just by watching him and Djokovic and Justin Rose they'd all have Foxsports subscriptions... I watched Djokovic the other night...does this mean my sporting prowess will suddenly improve??
Peter Warrington
Guest
He did that last summer; they didn't pick him, anyway.
DTM
Guest
I guess we need to know which CA considers more important - the Ashes or the World Cup. For me, it's the Ashes and I would leave Maxi and Marcus out of the trip to India. Tell them they are in the World Cup squad but that you want them to push their case for an Ashes squad berth by scoring sensible runs in the Shield. We are unlikely to win these meaningless ODI and T20 games in India so lets send over some kids to see how they go. We could mix it with some experience: Squad for India: Carey Phillipe Lynn Short Wade Ferguson A Turner Behrendorf K Richardson S O'Keefe Sams Meredith Green Zampa J Cook
Gav
Guest
If centuries and half centuries aren’t the criteria David, why use those stats to open your article? Not to mention the strange notion of trying to talk about consistency by grouping together all 3 formats where batsmen (particularly guys like Glenn Maxwell) have wildly differing roles.
Nick
Roar Guru
Swing and a miss, David. i think you missed the absurdly naked sarcasm in Matt's post.
anon
Roar Pro
He hasn't been given an opportunity.
David Lord
Expert
DingoGray, you just don’t get it do you. “I don’t like Glenn Maxwell”, nothing could be further from the truth. In my book he has the natural ability to be the third best batsman in the country after Steve Smith, and David Warner. With Smith and Warner suspended, Maxwell should be the best available, but it’s not the case because he wastes just about every chance he’s given. I long for the day when he plays every ball on its merit, utilising his power when the chance presents itself, and being among the first selections in all three formats. That’s what Glenn Maxwell’s natural ability demands, it’s only Glenn Maxwell who is stopping that happening which is hardening the selectors against him at Test level. But it’s never too late to change, even at 30.