Glenn Maxwell was Australia’s sole spinner as they won the 2015 World Cup, earning a place in the Team of the Tournament.
Yet Tuesday was the first time in more than three years he bowled ten overs in an ODI.
Maxwell thrives on being given responsibility with the ball. In the 27 ODIs in which he has bowled six or more overs, Maxwell has the impressive figures of 32 wickets at an average of 34, with an excellent economy rate of 4.98 runs per over.
By comparison, Marcus Stoinis – who is being favoured as Australia’s fifth bowler ahead of Maxwell – averages 44 at an economy rate of 6.03 in the ODI matches where he sends down at least six overs.
The issue is that only twice in the past three years has Maxwell been given the chance to bowl six or more overs in an ODI.
One of those came in the second ODI against India on Tuesday when Maxwell did a fantastic job, taking 1-43 from ten overs.
That included the huge scalp of Indian star Shikhar Dhawan, who was beaten by a nice change in trajectory by Maxwell, who after looping up a few deliveries skidded through a flatter ball and earned the LBW.
Australian skipper Aaron Finch was so confident in the bowling ability of Maxwell that he brought him into the attack after just six overs to bowl during the Power Play against two ODI batting monsters in Dhawan and Virat Kohli.
Glenn Maxwell rolls his arm over for Australia. (Photo: AAP image)
This is a massive task for any spinner, let alone one who barely has been used for three years.
Yet Maxwell promptly took 1-4 from his two overs in the Power Play, managing to challenge the Indian guns with his accuracy and subtle changes in flight, pace and release points.
The Victorian is not a game-changing spinner. But when he is backed by his captain he has shown he can be a dependable role player with the ball. Australia’s preoccupation with playing three frontline quicks – a strategy I expect them to use in this year’s World Cup in the UK – only makes Maxwell’s bowling more relevant.
Australia went pace-heavy in the ODIs in England last year and paid the price. England’s uber-flat ODI pitches and tiny grounds often make pace on the ball a liability.
Only elite ODI quicks can consistently fare well in those conditions.
Spinners in England are of particular importance between overs ten and 40 when they can put the brakes on an ODI innings.
This was evident in Australia’s ODI series in England last year when Ashton Agar and Nathan Lyon together went at a miserly 5.1 runs per over against the world’s highest-scoring batting line-up.
Meanwhile, Australia’s frontline quicks gave up an incredible 7.1 runs per over across that five-match series.
Australia seem highly unlikely to play two frontline spinners in the World Cup but they should at least be looking for a third of the overs they send down to be spin by using Maxwell in addition to their specialist spinner.
Maxwell is fortunate that current ODI skipper Aaron Finch seems to rate his bowling much more highly than Steve Smith, under the leadership of whom Maxwell was all but banished from the bowling crease.
The Victorian should be given every opportunity over the next three ODIs in India and the following five matches in the UAE to prove he can play a key role with the ball in the World Cup.
Insult_2_Injury
Roar Rookie
That was an opinion. Glad you have a sense of humour, so do I.
Aston Northfield
Guest
If you watched last night too he bowled quite well and had kohli dropped caught behind on 97. I was so disappointed watching that. I'm glad he is being backed by finch, he is our best player I believe.
Peter Warrington
Guest
Given Smith's pride cameth before his Fall, and now he is no longer captain, and seeks integration into a team containing Maxwell as a senior player, maybe someone should finally ask Smith what he was thinking, and what he thinks now. And how you can strike at 130 without training differently to someone who strikes at 86. That sort of stuff.
boonboon
Roar Pro
Maxwell just does better in general when Steve Smith isn't captain. Obviously the 2 didn't see eye to eye. It will be interesting to see what happens when Smith comes back because now Mazy is probably the senior and star player in the One Day line up imo and Smith down the order of seniority
Steve Squires
Roar Rookie
Finch probably knows Maxi's game better being a fellow Victorian. For all his failures with the bat, and our diabolical form I do prefer Finch as ODI captain over Smith. Smith consistently underused all his all rounders...lack of imagination? Lack of trust? Always was a conservative captain. Finch is aggressive, which is required to win a WC especially if the team isn't the best around...
Peter Warrington
Guest
Maxwell honoured a heap of players including Smith. He was celebrating Smith's impregnability in India. In return, Smith chose Maxwell's "leave" as his impersonation, and the little Turd's enablers all tittered as required.
Sgt Pepperoni
Roar Rookie
It's bizarre isn't it. Head and Short are the surprising omissions for me. I would also have liked to see Wade and Faulkner given game time
Ashan D
Roar Pro
Maxwell was under used as soon as Clarke retired. Smith either did not believe in him or did not like him. Could be both but cant be neither as to why Maxi was not used. Smith was an appalling captain when it comes to using spinners in ODIs.
El Loco
Roar Rookie
I assume this comment is directed to me Insult_2_Injury. That makes you and David Lord that have used my alias as a gag, I'm ok with that. More useful would be an expression of opinion ;)
David Holden
Roar Guru
Thanks Ronan. Any idea as to what Maxwell’s average and strike rate is when he doesn’t bowl six overs? Just looking to check he isn’t being replaced because he’s being belted around.
Just Nuisance
Roar Rookie
It's a bit of a mystery to me as to why so many Aussie supporters still debate Maxwell inclusion. For me he should be the 1st name penciled in every time. Maxwell is a fight them in the trenches cricketer. Vital to any team. If Australia don't select him we will have him here in South Africa.
Brian
Guest
Having named an unchanged 15 for the tour of the UAE I assume the WC squad is down to the 15 named along with Warner, Smith, Starc and Hazlewood. We can forget about for Lynn, Wade, Head, M Marsh, Agar, Faulkner,
Sgt Pepperoni
Roar Rookie
It would be ideal to have all rounders to 11 if they were good enough. Currently our balance is out and we don't bat deep enough. Two spinners in Lyon and Zampa is fine but if you then plan two specialist quicks the tail is too long. All rounders to at least 8 if not 9 gives a lot more promise to the scoring potential All the more reason I'm staggered that Short wasn't given a chance in both India and the UAE. Twenty+ overs between Short, Stoinis and Maxwell is much more flexible
Insult_2_Injury
Roar Rookie
Living up to your nom de plume, mate!
Dilip Samuel
Guest
If D'Arcy Short is included that totals 3 spinners in the Aussie set up, Glenn Maxwell and Zampa included. Short is very strong with left handed batsmen (remember the dismissals of Pant?) However, he has to go round the wicket to right handers to put them in disarray. What's more is both Glenn and Short bat as well! By the way, why haven't we seen Smith bowling these days?
Ronan O'Connell
Expert
I think Maxwell could do just as good a job in ODIs as Moeen, who is backed in by Root to bowl 6-10 overs a match.
Andrew
Guest
On Stoinis, he does however bowl death overs whereas other part timers/allrounders tend not to so Stoinis' average is not too bad
Prez
Roar Rookie
Agreed, Smith didn't use Maxwell effectively when captain, but do wonder if that was all Smith's choice, we know in shorter form that bowling rotations are more pre planned then ever... Change of head coach and bowling coach may see Maxwell bowling a lot more in the future.
The Bush
Roar Guru
I agree with these comments; we obviously don't know if Smith has a personal issue with Maxwell, but he clearly has a professional issue with him. Maxwell was the form ODI player in Australia at the end of the World Cup - he was even our 2015 ODI player of the year. Yet since that time his status in the team as declined perceptively (as have our results) and this has been under Smith's watch.
Dwanye
Roar Rookie
Agreed DaveJ, except the selectors being wary of anti-Marsh hysteria. If I am following your meaning correctly. I don’t think they care what’s fans thoughts are.