So Glenn Maxwell has taken time out for mental health reasons.
Hopefully he’ll be back soon. Because if Maxwell’s career were to end now, it would rob the Australian game of perhaps its most exciting player, and we have a lot of exciting players. It would also mean those Maxwell fans out there – of which I am one – would lose out on their dream of seeing Maxy as a three-format player for Australia.
I’m not sure exactly where Maxwell sits in the Australian set-up at the moment, mental health notwithstanding.
He is a regular in Australia’s T20 team – in his last innings he scored that terrific swashbuckling half-century.
I’m less certain where he sits in the ODI calculations despite his amazing talent in that format. He had a mediocre World Cup. It wasn’t terrible – there were some handy innings and wickets – but he was bracketed in with Marcus Stoinis, who did have a terrible World Cup, and both were singled out by Justin Langer as a key reason for Australia not making the final.
(AAP Image/Mal Fairclough)
Both Stoinis and Maxwell were left out of the Australian squad tour game in England, which meant unofficially they were considered to not be among the top 25 first-class players in the country. That despite Maxwell having a better first-class average than Cameron Bancroft, Marcus Harris, Travis Head and Mitch Marsh, all of whom played in the Ashes.
Last month, Maxwell recognised he was way back in the pecking order and insisted he was fine with that.
The odd thing is, only a few months earlier Justin Langer said Maxwell could be Australia’s Virat Kohli off the back of some amazing ODI performances in India.
How did Maxwell go from being ‘the next Kohli’ in three formats to not even among the top 25 first-class players in the country after only playing a few first-class games?
What happened?
I think Langer got bedazzled by the Maxwell enigma. A lot of people fall victim to that – Maxwell does something brilliant, you stare into the sun and get blinded by the light. You start to think, “Gee, what if he did that all the time? How awesome would that be?” and dream of spectacular feats done constantly instead of sporadically.
(AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
Expectations rise very high, and when they’re not met coaches and selectors and captains who believed in him feel silly and betrayed.
And then they get grumpy.
I think this is at the heart of why Maxwell gets publicly scolded so often by captains, coaches and selectors and has done for a number of years.
Way back in January 2014 coach Darren Lehmann singled out Maxwell for criticism in a press conference after Australia lost an ODI. “He understands he has got to be a better cricketer for us to get to where we want to get to,” Lehmann said. “He’s got the talent, but the way we want him to play, he’s got to finish those games off for us.”
In October 2015 Lehmann was upset at Maxwell for getting out in a domestic one day game. “He’s exciting, but we have to see him be really hungry to make big runs,” he said.
Maxwell replied that Lehmann “has a couple of snide remarks every now and again. He doesn’t mind having a dig at me, which is fine”.
In September 2016 Maxwell tried to move states to NSW to rejuvenate his career. Victoria blocked him and then dropped him for the next Shield game despite him being a contender for a Test spot.
In December 2016, Maxwell suggested he might do better batting for Victoria higher up the order than wicketkeeper Matthew Wade. Captain Steve Smith and the leadership group then fined Maxwell for the comments.
That month, Lehmann said Maxwell wasn’t considered for the South African Test series despite consistently averaging 50 in the Shield because he hadn’t made a hundred for two years.
“Are you going to pick a bloke who hasn’t made a hundred in two years?” he said.
In October 2017, two Tests after Maxwell scored a Test century in India, Lehmann announced publicly that his spot was up for grabs for the forthcoming Ashes. Maxwell scored two half-centuries in a Sheffield Shield game but Lehmann then criticised him for not scoring 180, and he was then dropped for Shaun Marsh. Maxwell insisted it was all fine.
In January 2018 Maxwell was dropped from Australia’s ODI team. Steve Smith pointed to Maxwell’s lack of runs in the format and said he needed to “train smarter”.
Former captains criticised Smith for doing this at a press conference instead of behind closed doors, but Maxwell insisted it was all cool.
(Mark Nolan/Getty Images)
In 2018, following sandpaper gate, Maxwell was discouraged from signing an English county deal so he could focus on the upcoming Australia A series of India. He wasn’t picked on that tour. In September of that year, he was omitted from the Test tour of the UAE, with Travis Head and Marcus Labuschagne selected instead on the back of runs they made on that Australia A series that Maxwell was not picked for.
Justin Langer claimed there was “a method to our madness” about this selection and trotted out the line about Maxwell not scoring hundreds. The many logic flaws in Langer’s argument were pointed out at the time. Maxwell insisted he was fine with it.
In January 2019, Trevor Hohns said Maxwell “is just content to focus on one-day cricket and white-ball cricket,” but admits “he makes it very clear he would like to play Test cricket.”
Maxwell put on a smile and insisted everything was fine.
“I’m certainly not sulking about it. I’m pretty happy with where I’m at, at the moment,” he said.
“I’m still trying to do all I can to get back in that Test side but I’ve just got to make sure I’m making every post a winner from now on.”
(AP Photo/Jon Super)
My take on all this? Maxwell can do such magical things batting, bowling and fielding that captains, coaches and selectors get frustrated he can’t do them all the time, which means they don’t appreciate what he can give them.
For Maxwell’s entire first-class career, he’s pretty much consistently averaged 40 with the bat, taken the odd useful wicket and been amazing in the field. That is a very handy player to have in your side.
If he’d replicated his first-class form at Test level, he would still have outperformed pretty much every Australian batsman in the past decade who isn’t Dave Warner, Steve Smith or Usman Khawaja and would’ve also given the captain a bowling option. His fielding is also among the best in the world.
Why is that not enough?
I get people want more. I’m sure Maxwell would like to give more. But he can still give a lot – more than others in the Australian top six have been providing.
If Maxwell does come back to cricket, I hope he’s still considered for Test matches. A no.6 who averages 40, can take the odd wicket and fields brilliantly – that is a very handy player. That is what Maxwell is. It’s not Kohli, but it’s still very, very good.
I don’t think it will happen. But a guy can dream.
Come back, Maxy. You are missed.
Matt Clark
Guest
I think it's all because of Smith "the second to Bradman",it's like have made a vow to stop maxi "always and forever".he criticised him for not making enough runs in Bangladesh tour after his test century and 45* from later one inning in india tour and even if he would had made one century and a half century in that tour,he is not going to change his words on australian pitch has a diffrent wicket,and he always critised him whether train smarter or punishing him for mathew wade where maxi just made some honest comments by not including him in some international matches,i always ask,what smith is doing in t20s,is he better than likes of short or m Klinger? the answer is no,because he made some runs in ipl and Australian soil is a diffrent wicket if we should compare his words then he should not be playing t20i after being absent for 2 years mostly willingly and now coming back for t20i world cup,wow why australian selector just announce that we are not gonna pick maxwell in test cricket ever and try to throw him away from odi cricket too with smith announcing it and also that they gonna select marsh brother and bancroft and every second player smith likes,no matter what because we got smith and we get the best test batsman and we gonna litsen to him only,sometime i think may be smith gonna open someday in t20cricket in just in time he become captain,o yes,you heard it right,he is now saying something like he is not thinking about it but after ban is finished and the created role model tim paine is gone in like of carey or someone who is next smith,i know Smith,he will always choose players he likes,because if maxwell couldn't get a test call after he averaged 75,how the hell he gonna ever gonna be selected,it's all about "Smith'choice". Warner given maxwell Chance to open with him in t20s against sri lanka because he was captain and knows what kind of extraordinary batsman he is but sadly now as langer was also west Australia coach,i don't think anyone is going to stop mitch marsh from getting selected no matter how hard fans or former cricketers critise Australian selection panel within justin and smith included and bancroft get selected instead of Usman kwaza who was most impressive on Australian soil may be even better than smith sometimes in last 3-4 years. Last words,no offence to smith as i am a fan of him in test matches but i don't understand why the hell he got selected in t20s,there are better choices than him in this format in Australia cricket for that place of his,and i want to see what he will do when he will play t20i against teams like New Zealand,India,England and South Africa because if he can be a valuable player in t20s in somebody's opinion,then i will proudly say Maxwell has far better chances to be valuable in test cricket. And good article Stephen,you should be appreciated, thanku for writing this article.
Bob
Guest
Excellent article there, it’s unbelievable that guys like Bancroft and Mitch Marsh get gifted tests on the back of mediocre FC performances yet Maxwell’s excellent FC record carries no weight. In addition Maxwell gets little opportunity to develop his white ball game as he is automatic selection for ODIs and T20 internationals, many of which have no meaning. If I were he I would retire from 50 over cricket all together and concentrate on T20 and FC cricket only. That should help reduce his schedule enough to become a really good test cricketer.
matth
Roar Guru
There’s a phrase for it in business - The Expectation Gap
matth
Roar Guru
Really nice article Stephen
Beeboy
Guest
Definitely my favourite player to watch, and I’d say his batting talent is only 2nd to smith, he loves to have fun and enjoy a game, which upsets the nerdy type. I believe he should play all 3 formats for Australia, and be a no think option. He’s the dynamite Australia needs. If your intending on playing for a draw and just batting time in a test he’s not your player. But if your playing to win, you want him in the team. And I believe that it what the Australians want, but the selectors must be too blind and scared for their own jobs to see the stadiums have been empty for a reason. Come back soon maxi we love you!!
bowledover
Roar Rookie
100%. Coach should not be a selector. This is a no brainer.
DaveJ
Roar Rookie
Well said. The Geoff Lawson article referenced also sums up the flawed thinking of the selectors very nicely, particularly in regard to that series in the UAE. He hasn’t exactly made an obvious case on Test selection, but nor has been given a fair go.
Spanner
Roar Rookie
Very good point James.
Spanner
Roar Rookie
You're a West Australian, Donny , you wouldnt understand !
JamesH
Roar Guru
Nice read. I think one thing Maxwell has suffered from is a lack of other consistent batsmen in the test side. When our team is regularly collapsing and there is a revolving door of batsmen, an x-factor type of player isn't going to look like an attractive option. In that environment the selectors will naturally look for someone who at least has the appearance of being more dependable, even if the numbers don't actually support that appearance (e.g. the Marsh brothers or Labuschagne). I often wonder how many tests Maxwell might have played if he had a couple more reliable batsmen above him. If he was coming in behind say, Ponting, Clarke and Hussey. Sort of like how Symonds did.
anon
Roar Pro
Maxwell had an ordinary World Cup but still averaged 22 as a late innings slogger. His strike rate was a whopping 150. He was forced to up the tempo because our top order batsmen were happy to plod along at a 75 strike rate. Do you guys seriously expect a batsman that comes in at over 35-45 to average the same as 1st or 2nd drop? Those are extraordinary numbers when you consider he's told to be aggressive and score quickly. People are seriously questioning his role in the side? 2019: Avg 33 S/R 132 2018: Avg 30 S/R 99 2017: Avg 27 S/R 113 2016: Avg 25 S/R 121
James
Roar Rookie
I am a big fan of Glenn Maxwell. He brings excitement and brilliance to what can be a dour game. He would be included in all three formats for Australia if I was a selector. All those public criticisms were harsh. He cops a lot on social media too. Excellent article Stephen!
Jero
Roar Rookie
Checks and balances.
Stephen Vagg
Roar Guru
Six state selection panel? May be a bit tricky :) I still feel a three person panel is the best... that way every Sheild game can have a selector there, and there's always someone to have a casting vote if there's a dispute. I still feel the coach shouldn't be a selector - they should have input of course but not the final say. It's not like football where players are picked from a squad constantly monitored by the coach. Coaches simply are not available to attend all the Shield games.
AshleyH
Guest
A great piece that recaps the bumpy road experienced by one of the most entertaining, and maligned, cricketers of the past 30 years. Many other players would have collapsed under the weight of expectations a lot sooner than Maxwell.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Blaming Maxi's circumstances on the Marshes is staggering.
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
Ferguson was a convenient scapegoat. Blame the underling. That Hobart ’16 was terrible management
Spanner
Roar Rookie
The selectors have too much to say and dont help their cause at all. As I have always maintained - a selector from each state gets rid of the bias. As a South Aussie, I still boil with rage over the treatment of Callum Ferguson - one test (in that Hobart debacle against SA) and ran out in one of his 2 innings. How cricket fans in this state would have loved for him to have a quarter of the chances afforded either of the Marshes !
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
And Hohns re-mouthing it. I nearly spat out my porridge.
Jero
Roar Rookie
When you hear Langer describe Bancroft as the future of Australian cricket after selecting him for the Test squad with a 17.66 First Class average this season, you see what Maxwell and others are up against: a highly uneven playing field, and a highly partial coach/selector who seems consumed with recreating the Test team in his own image.