Glenn Maxwell’s World Cup has been lukewarm.
His performance has to heat up as Australia enters the finals.
Yes, he boasts the third highest strike rate in the tournament and is the best of the Australians at 163.1.
But unfortunately that strike rate has been accumulated across an aggregate of just 95 balls from nine innings during which he has scored 155 runs at 22.1.
Facing on average just ten balls each innings is simply not good enough regardless of the strike rate.
When I outlined those stats on social media a few days back I was met with some responses along the lines of, “He hasn’t had a lot of opportunities”.
I have seen similar comments elsewhere.
They are blatantly wrong.
Australia’s Glenn Maxwell. (Mark Nolan/Getty Images)
Maxwell has had ample opportunity to go big – not by distance of shot, but by the number runs on the scoreboard.
His first appearance of the tournament against Afghanistan was always going to be brief as he struck his only delivery faced to the boundary as Australia secured a comfortable victory.
Against Sri Lanka, he was unbeaten on 46 from 25 deliveries as the team posted 7-334.
The only innings where he was dismissed inside the last few overs was against Bangladesh when he was run out for 32 off ten balls in the 47th over.
In his other innings, he has squandered opportunities when time and overs were on his side.
Against the West Indies he was out in the 8th over; the 41st against India; the 34th against Pakistan; the 39th against England; the 22nd against New Zealand; and the 25th against South Africa.
In those matches he had the chance to build an innings.
There was no need to go full throttle from ball one.
His dismissal against the West Indies was his nadir, coming when a responsible and watchful knock was needed.
He fell to a top-edged pull shot off a bouncer from Sheldon Cottrell – the second ball he had faced – leaving Australia teetering at 4-38.
The scoreboard demanded that that was not the shot to play but play it he did.
Aaron Finch has used him at various spots in the order.
He came in at number five in the first three matches before alternating between there and number four in the next four games.
In his last two innings – against New Zealand and South Africa – he was held back, coming in at number six.
It was perhaps a sign that the camp was concerned about his approach when time was not an issue.
In the latter stages of the preliminary round he was exposed by some heady fast bowling.
Against England, he was caught behind off Mark Wood while attempting to run a bouncer to third man.
He was out to a top-edged hook shot off Kagiso Rabada in the game against the Proteas.
Safe to say when he comes to the centre in his remaining appearances the opposing skipper will turn to his principal strike bowlers in an endeavour to rough him up.
Glenn Maxwell has a different path to the Test side than Matt Hayden ever did. (AP Photo/Jon Super)
Given the order of the call-ups as members of the squad have fallen to injury it appears likely that Peter Handscomb will get the nod ahead of Matthew Wade for the spot vacated by Usman Khawaja due to a hamstring strain.
With Marcus Stoinis suffering a second side strain in a few weeks in the loss to South Africa Mitchell Marsh will probably suit-up in the semi-final against England.
It then remains to be seen how Australia will structure its batting order.
Finch and David Warner should be followed by Steve Smith, who must surely move to number three.
The former skipper has had a modest World Cup – his nine innings producing 294 runs at 32.7 with a strike rate of 91 – but now is the time for him to take the pivotal first drop position.
Handscomb will slot in at four and from there it gets interesting.
Alex Carey has been a revelation at number seven.
He has been totally unfazed while accumulating 329 runs at 65.8 on the back of a strike rate of 113.
There have been calls for him to move up the order, some saying as high as number five.
For me, it should either be Carey or Marsh at five with the other at six.
I would be holding Maxwell back for the last dozen overs or so.
The Big Show in happier times (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
He could still be used as a floater if the top order gets off to a flyer and bats deep into the innings but given the way he has imploded when given significant overs to face I would be holding him back towards the end of the innings.
Wherever he bats, he has to be more selective in his approach if he does come in with ample overs remaining.
Ten to 15 ball cameos in the semi-final and decider – should Australia get there – will see him depart England having had minimal impact on the tournament.
His bowling has yet to provide a wicket with his 49 overs producing 0-295 with an economy rate of 6.0.
But it his batting that is the most important ingredient for Australia.
The time has come to display his wares on the biggest stage by mixing controlled aggression in concert with the state of the game.
Peter Warrington
Guest
you've come to lecture and hector and show superior insight, leading with a fact - THAT IS OUT BY 100%!
Paul
Roar Guru
I've only just seen this comment Jeff and no, I was not including you. There are a number of others who just can't see this guys failings no matter what numbers or other supporting facts are presented. Sadly me comment proved accurate again last night. I wonder what will happen with Maxwell now? He'll play T20's for Australia for sure, but has he done his dash in ODI & Test cricket? I suspect this series might be his swansong
Waxhead
Roar Rookie
To all the G. Maxwell fanboys take note plz. Maxwell's batting ave in this world cup was 11.7. As is normal for him he failed again last night in the semi final when Australia needed him most. Maxwell and the Marsh bros have had a long history of failing under pressure. They can look fantastic against ordinary attacks on flat Aussie pitches when it doesn't matter. But put any major pressure on them on a swinging, or spinning pitch, and they fold like a pack of cards every time. They can't perform under pressure in big matches and ...... are poor on swinging, seaming or spinning pitches. How many times does this have to proven to you fanboys guys before you understand that some players just don't have what it takes to handle the big games .... or adversity. Maxwell is 30, S. Marsh 36. They're too old now - they had their chance and came up short. Move on - next plz :)
Scumbags&Superstars
Roar Rookie
Maxwell should never play for Australia again. And selectors in Victoria should be rubbing their chins as well.
Pedro The Fisherman
Roar Rookie
So according to your own analysis he has failed against India, England, South Africa, Pakistan, West Indies and New Zealand? Did he succeed against any decent side or is that too simplistic for you?
anon
Roar Pro
Give me a break. They all pick their favourites, have their own agendas, especially anyone that has brown nosed their way to the top job.
Tana Mir
Roar Rookie
Mate, Ricky/Langer know a little about cricket, they don’t strike me kind of blokes that will tolerate selfish cricketers. This constant demand of 350 scores is just not cricket. I can’t believe I’ve to write this; 240 on a tricky wicket is hard to score, at times, than 350 on a road.
anon
Roar Pro
Anyone that dead bats it at the death like Stoinis, or dawdles to an 80 off 120 when we have 8 wickets in hand is selfish.
Naz
Roar Rookie
…but struggles to dominate longer formats Have you seen his FC average?
astro
Roar Rookie
Ha! Quickly checked his record...10yrs ago, Maxwell (at 20yrs of age) was selected for the Hong Kong Cricket Sixes (where he won Player of the Tournament)...was that "his big chance"? Seems a tough call me...
astro
Roar Rookie
Amazing you can make a comment like "their averages are rubbish" without actually looking at their averages against other Australian ODI players. Shaun Marsh has the 11th best batting average in ODIs of all Australian players who have played at least 30 innings. He's above Gilchrist, Mark Waugh, Finch, Symonds and others...In the lead up to the WC, he scored 4 centuries in 2 ODIs and scored more runs (577 at 72) than Australia's next two best batters combined in that period. But your right, his average is 'rubbish' because you say so. Same for Maxwell...Let's take Peter's comment below and not be rookies by looking at averages out of context. How about we look at ODIs for 2019 leading into the WC as context? Well, Maxwell has scored 458 runs at 42, striking at 126 in all ODIs this year prior to the WC. Definitely 'rubbish', right? Sorry Waxhead, but you are guilty of exactly what you are accusing others of doing with Maxwell and the Marsh brothers...You are judging them on reputation (much of which comes from their Test performances), and not their actual ODI form. If you cant figure out why they keep getting selected, spend 10mins looking at their actual performances, and you'll find a pretty logical answer.
The Bush
Roar Guru
Because they don’t know any facts... or anything about cricket.
Peter Warrington
Guest
so obviously you are testing the literal definition of "nothing. that's fine, rhetorical flourish flourishes on here. just a couple of things for your consideration: 1. Buttler is elite. A superstar of the highest order. Does comparing Maxwell to the best of their type strengthen or weaken your argument? Are bowlers hopeless if they are not Starc? 2. Buttler averages 47 at home and 31 away. He is not alone in that, for all disciplines. Is that a consideration in comparing him to others, who don't play the large majority of games on english decks, and smallish grounds? 3. Buttler comes in after an order replete with tonkers. Maxwell, not. Are there occasions where (a) Buttler gets to feast on an already defeated lineup? (b) Buttler has the luxury of getting set, before exploding, or makes it to the 50th (has double MAxwell's not outs fyi). Now none of this diminishes Buttler in my eyes. A deadset superstar in the modern game, hopefully leads the Thunder to glory this summer. Clearly there are many times Buttler may have played a better innings that Maxwell. But does any of it help you re-evaluate Maxwell's performance across his career, and in this series, where we are clearly going "steady, explode, capitalise"? And to see how rare this type of talent is? And that Australia has no other?
Tana Mir
Roar Rookie
Maxi is a gun, anyone who refuses to see that needs to follow some other sport. But saying Stoinis and Khawaja refuse to take risks, insinuating they are not team players is just plain wrong. Maybe look up the word ‘Role’
Tana Mir
Roar Rookie
Khawaja’s strike rate this World Cup: 88.26, career ST: 84. But you comment is good, other than factual errors to justify your logic.
Adam Bagnall
Roar Guru
Premier franchise tournament...of backyard cricket. T20 cricket is a game of limited skill and that's why he's great at that but struggles to dominate longer formats
Ben
Guest
Yet Buttler averages 40 with a 120 strike rate as well......Maxwell has done nothing, its time to move on after this world cup
Ben
Guest
Thats not how cricket works you spud. Maxwell getting out for 12 the other night was very poor, as have several of his dismissals this WC. Time for him to actually stand up and make a big score when he comes to the crease early.
Jeff
Roar Rookie
Is the hit and giggle cricket you are referring to Adam, the premier franchise tournament in the world which attracts the highest paid and most talented professionals world cricket can offer up? That is a rather silly statement to make; trying to double down on an opinion by making those type of dismissive statements which clearly aren’t representative of the facts only serves to further diminish the veracity of the initial viewpoint which was put forward.
Jeff
Roar Rookie
Why is fact-based analysis and commentary so difficult for so many..