Glenn Maxwell Archives

‘IPL form is irrelevant’: Usman Khawaja on Glenn Maxwell’s recent struggles

Australian Test cricketer Usman Khawaja has extended his support for teammate Glenn Maxwell, expressing optimism that the all-rounder will showcase his top form in the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, despite his recent performance in the IPL.

Maxwell represented Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the recently concluded IPL, where he managed a meagre 52 runs in nine innings.

However, Khawaja backed Maxwell, calling IPL form ‘irrelevant.’ He expressed hope that the all-rounder will bounce back during the mega-event.

“The IPL form is absolutely irrelevant. Maxy’s proven himself time and time again. Any player who’s performed over a long period of time understands that you can’t perform well every time you go out there,” Khawaja said while speaking to the West Australian.

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The experienced opener acknowledged the high-risk nature of T20 cricket, where the middle-order batters often need to maintain higher strike rates. However, Usman Khawaja expressed confidence that Glenn Maxwell only requires one innings to regain his form.

“You take a few risks, particularly if you bat in the middle order, and T20 cricket’s not easy. But [for this tournament] if he gets one good innings, he’s away. It doesn’t matter what’s happened in the past. He’s not going to change his game and nor should he. Just keep going. He’ll find it,” Khawaja added.

Maxwell did not participate in Australia’s first T20 World Cup 2024 warm-up fixture against Namibia yesterday, along with Travis Head, Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Cameron Green, and Marcus Stoinis. These players were participating in IPL and expected to link up with the team soon.

Australia will face co-hosts West Indies in their final warm-up match on Thursday at the same venue.

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Glenn Maxwell doubtful for Bangladesh clash after double-century heroics

Glenn Maxwell is still feeling the effects of his stunning ICC World Cup 2023 double-century against Afghanistan and could now miss Australia’s final group match against Bangladesh in Pune on Saturday.

Australia will also look at calling up fast bowler Sean Abbott in a bid to rest one of their frontline pace trio, given captain Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood have featured in all eight matches so far in the tournament.

The Bangladesh game is a ‘dead’ fixture for Australia, given they have already qualified for the semi-finals of the ICC World Cup 2023 after Maxwell’s astounding innings ensured they defeated Afghanistan by three wickets, having collapsed to 91-7 chasing 292, in Mumbai on Tuesday.

Five-time champions Australia are now set to play South Africa in a Kolkata semi-final on Thursday, having won six games in a row after starting the tournament with two defeats.

“He’s definitely been in full recovery mode the last few days,” Australia assistant coach Daniel Vettori said of Glenn Maxwell.

“We all saw the effects of the innings and in particular the heat, so I think today (Friday) is a big day,” the former New Zealand captain added.

“Obviously, we’ve had a couple of days off, so there’s been no training. He’s not here today but we’ll just see how he feels as the day continues.”

Glenn Maxwell, while completing his 147th run, suffered severe cramps in both legs and then underwent a back spasm as he collapsed to the turf at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium.

Yet despite being barely able to move in his crease, Glenn Maxwell still went on to make 201 not out from 128 balls.

The 35-year-old all-rounder struck 21 fours and secured both victory and his double century with a tenth six.

Australia are set to leave a decision on whether to play Maxwell against Bangladesh until shortly before the game, with star batsman Steve Smith set to be recalled following a bout of vertigo.

If Glenn Maxwell is omitted and Smith included, that would spare Australia’s selectors from deciding if they had to drop either batsman Marnus Labuschagne or all-rounder Marcus Stoinis.

Meanwhile, Vettori said the 31-year-old Abbott had a chance of a World Cup debut.

“To try to get those three fast bowlers (Cummins, Starc and Hazlewood) through nine games and in a short period of time, we always presumed that would be a tough challenge,” said Vettori.

“So Sean was always in the picture as a potential replacement for one of them…It’s just weighing up how everyone’s come through these last few days.”

Although little rests on the outcome of Saturday’s match, Vettori added Australia were still keen to leapfrog South Africa into second place in the standings.

“I think the home dressing room at (Kolkata’s) Eden Gardens is better than the away one, so we want second place so we can get in that dressing room,” he said.

READ: Rachin Ravindra named ICC Men’s Player of the Month for October 2023

Australia suffer major setback ahead of World Cup clash against England

In-form all-rounder Glenn Maxwell has been ruled out of Australia’s ICC World Cup 2023 clash against England, head coach Andrew McDonald said on Wednesday.

According to the details, Maxwell suffered a concussion due to falling off a golf cart this week.

He fell on his back off the buggy after playing a round of golf, ahead of his side’s all-important contest against defending champions England on Saturday.

Watch ICC World Cup 2023 Live on ARY ZAP

As per Cricket Australia’s concussion protocols, Glenn Maxwell’s condition will be monitored for a few days.

“He’s doing fine, he’ll start some light exercises today and we feel as though it will be a reasonably straightforward return to play protocol,” McDonald told reporters.

“I suppose the fortunate part was there was no other injury sustained which could have been a lot worse than it is. I think it rattled everyone to be fair once it came to the conclusion there was a concussion and he was going to miss a game.

“There was nothing untoward in the behaviour throughout the day, it was a clear-cut accident. Unfortunately, it’s compromised what we are doing as a team.”

For the unversed, Maxwell missed Australia’s away series against South Africa before the ICC World Cup 2023 with an ankle issue.

He also broke his leg, last November, in a freak accident at a birthday party in Melbourne.

Meanwhile, Glenn Maxwell has turned up to be a crucial asset for Australia with his hard-hitting ability and as a disciplined off-spinner.

In his side’s ICC World Cup 2023 fixture against the Netherlands, Glenn Maxwell stunned the World Cup by smashing the fastest World Cup hundred.

The right-handed batter decimated the Dutch bowlers to bring up a 40-ball hundred.

He finished at a 44-ball 106 that featured nine boundaries and eight sixes.

Glenn Maxwell also became the first batter in ODI history to score a century after having faced the first ball after the 40th over.

READ: Quinton de Kock sets unique records with New Zealand ton

Glenn Maxwell ‘wasn’t expecting’ to hit fastest World Cup century

Glenn Maxwell admitted he “wasn’t expecting” to hit a record 40-ball World Cup century in Australia’s ICC World Cup 2023 fixture against the Netherlands on Wednesday.

Glenn Maxwell, nicknamed ‘The Big Show’ for his flamboyant hitting, clubbed eight fours and eight sixes in his run blitz as Australia piled up 399-8 against the Netherlands in New Delhi.

The stunning assault bettered the record of South Africa’s Aiden Markram who blasted a century off 49 balls against Sri Lanka at the same venue 18 days ago.

“It feels pretty good. I have been pretty cooked today so I wasn’t expecting much but it probably cleared my head a little bit to be able to go out there and play,” said Maxwell.

It was also the fourth-fastest century in all ODIs.

South Africa’s AB de Villiers leads the way with his 31-ball century against the West Indies in Johannesburg in 2015.

Watch ICC World Cup 2023 Live on ARY ZAP

New Zealander Corey Anderson reached three figures off 36 balls against the West Indies at Queenstown in 2014 while Shahid Afridi of Pakistan made a century from 37 deliveries facing Sri Lanka in Nairobi back in 1996.

Glenn Maxwell, 35, playing in his 133rd ODI, was eventually out for 104, just short of his career-best 108 made against England in Manchester in 2020.

It was also comfortably his best score of this World Cup — his highest before Wednesday was 31 not out against Sri Lanka in Lucknow.

“I was just trying to get a read on the bowlers because I felt like I had enough time to change and adapt. Generally I am just trying to get any reverse sweeps over the infield.

“I thought the Netherlands were outstanding. It felt like they saved some certain boundaries in the first 25-30 overs.

He added: “It is a rock hard outfield. The ball can travel around here so if you get early wickets and get into the middle order, you can put run-rate pressure on them.”

READ: Glenn Maxwell smashes fastest World Cup century

Glenn Maxwell smashes fastest World Cup century

DELHI: Australia’s hard-hitting batter Glenn Maxwell on Wednesday, rewrote history as he struck the fastest World Cup century in his side’s ICC World Cup 2023 fixture against Netherlands.

Maxwell smashed the fastest World Cup century, conceding just 40 deliveries to achieve the milestone.

He finished at a 44-ball 106 that featured nine boundaries and eight sixes.

Glenn Maxwell is the first batter in ODI history to score a century after having faced the first ball after the 40th over.

The right-handed all-rounder went after his Dutch counterpart Bas de Leede and played a pivotal role in pushing the latter to register the worst bowling figures in ODI cricket.

Coming out to bat at number six when Australia were 266/4 in the 39th over, Glenn Maxwell batted sensibly in the early phase of his sensational knock before switching gears.

He baton-charged the Dutch bowlers with belligerent hitting, the highlight of which was the 28-run 49th over, bowled by Bas de Leede.

For the unversed, the previous record was held by South Africa’s Aiden Markram. He scored his century in just 49 balls against Sri Lanka at the same venue in the ongoing ICC World Cup 2023.

Watch ICC World Cup 2023 Live on ARY ZAP

Prior to that, Australia had a shaky start after winning the toss as they lost Mitchell Marsh in the fourth over at a meagre total of 28.

However, David Warner, fresh from his 163 off 124 against Pakistan, joined hands with Steve Smith and knitted a solid 132-run stand for the second wicket.

Both batters completed their fifties during the partnership before Aryan Dutt sent Smith back to the pavilion.

Smith scored a 68-ball 71, with the help of nine boundaries and one six.

David Warner, played an anchor role during his 84-run partnership with Marnus Labuschagne, dominated by the latter, who scored 62 in 47 deliveries.

Labuschagne’s 47-ball 62 featured seven boundaries and two sixes before he was caught in an attempt to clear mid-on off Bas de Leede.

Meanwhile, David Warned completed his 22nd and second consecutive ODI century in 91 balls but got out two balls later leaving Australia to 267-5 in the 40th over.

Meanwhile, captain Pat Cummins stayed with Maxwell on the other end of the partnership dominated by Maxwell’s onslaught. Cummins scored a mere 8 runs in the partnership of 103.

Glenn Maxwell’s 44-ball knock came to an end in the final over, before Cummins hit the last ball for four to end the Australian innings at 399.

READ: Bas de Leede registers worst bowling figures in ODIs

Australia end losing streak with consolation win over India

Glenn Maxwell returned career-best figures of 4-40 to end Australia’s five-match losing streak with a consolation 66-run win over India in the third one-day international on Wednesday.

Mitchell Marsh led the batting onslaught with his 96 as Australia posted 352-7, a total their bowlers defended by bowling out India for 286 in Rajkot.

The hosts took the three-match series 2-1 but Australia finish on a high ahead of the ODI World Cup starting October 5 in India.

Maxwell, who returned to the team alongside Mitchell Starc after the two players recovered from their injuries, scored just five with the bat but made an impact with his impressive off-spin.

Glenn Maxwell got the first three wickets including skipper Rohit Sharma, for 81, and star batsman Virat Kohli, for 56, after a brisk start by India.

Rohit raised his fifty in 31 balls and seemed to have the chase in control but Maxwell got the captain with a stunning caught and bowled in his second over.

He then sent back Kohli soon after the former captain’s 66th ODI fifty and, despite a fighting 48 by Shreyas Iyer, the Indian batting folded in 49.4 overs.

Pace bowler Josh Hazlewood took two wickets as Australia ended the losing streak which started in South Africa earlier this month.

Batsmen set up victory after Marsh tore into the Indian bowlers in attacking partnerships that included a second-wicket stand of 137 with Steve Smith, who hit 74.

The top four batsmen stood out with Marsh, David Warner (56), Smith and Marnus Labuschagne (72) all contributing to a mammoth total that looked like going beyond 400 before India hit back.

Indian pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah took three wickets while left-arm wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav took two.

Marsh took on Bumrah with three boundaries and a six in the paceman’s first two overs and the left-handed Warner soon joined in the charge.

Warner hammered Prasidh Krishna for three fours and a six in the seventh over and raced to his fifty in 32 balls in the next with another hit over the fence.

Marsh reached his half-ton in 45 balls but was denied a century when he casually slapped Kuldeep straight to cover. His 84-ball knock included 13 fours and three sixes.

Smith, Alex Carey and Maxwell fell at regular intervals, slowing the tourists down before Labuschagne took control until he was undone by Bumrah’s slower ball in the penultimate over.

The two teams now head into the World Cup warm-ups before they meet in the 50-over showpiece tournament on October 8 in Chennai.

READ: Pakistan team steps foot in India for ICC World Cup 2023

‘Great cricket supporters’ Finch lauds Sri Lankan fans for their support

COLOMBO: Australia’s white-ball captain Aaron Finch thanked the Sri Lankan fans for their support and expressed his gratitude for touring the crisis-hit country in challenging times.

The Sri Lankan fans showed up in large numbers for the last match of the white-ball series between the two teams wearing yellow and gold to support the touring side, who won the fifth ODI to wrap up their white-ball tour. But the hosts prevailed 3-2 to win the series.

The Aussie players then also received a round of applause and standing ovation from the Sri Lankan fans after the conclusion of the fifth ODI. The Australian captain Finch, left amused by the electric environment and lauded the Sri Lankan fans for their support.

“We’re very grateful that we’ve been able to tour here. We know the difficulties that Sri Lanka has faced in recent times,” said Finch.

“Hopefully over these eight white-ball games we’ve been able to provide some joy to people in the country,” he maintained.

The skipper then went on to heap praises on the Sri Lankan fans and termed them, wonderful people and great supporters of cricket.

“It was outstanding, the Sri Lankan people are wonderful people,” Finch added. “The support that they provide is second to none. They are great cricket supporters, it’s not just constant noise, they ride the emotions of the game.

“When Sri Lanka are up and about, that’s as loud as anywhere you’ll visit in the world,” he concluded.

In a video shared by cricket.com.au, Australia all-rounder Glenn Maxwell, on the other hand, termed the moment as a pretty extraordinary feeling and revealed that he told his teammates that it was one of the most special feeling being able to walk around the ground and have a foreign country cheer for you.

"We're generally the enemy" 😅

The scenes in Colombo after the fifth ODI were unreal and left Glenn Maxwell and the Aussies stunned as fans thanked them for touring 🥰 #SLvAUS pic.twitter.com/Xugt5KVmyX

— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) June 24, 2022

“A lot of times when Australia tours we are generally the enemy and [there are] not too many Australian fans in the stands. But to have the support and fans that are here at the moment is truly extraordinary,” Maxwell stated.

“Everyone’s wearing yellow. They’ve got all the Australian flags all over the place. It’s extremely special and it’s a credit to everyone that’s been able to get out here. It’s been such a tough time obviously for the locals. For them to come out and support us, hopefully, both teams can entertain them and they’ve had a really good time during the one-day series,” he concluded.

READ: West Indian openers remain firm after bowlers sink Bangladesh on 234

Head suffers injury, Maxwell returns to Australia squad for Sri Lanka tour

MELBOURNE: Australia’s all-rounder Glenn Maxwell has been added to the Australia squad for their upcoming Test series against Sri Lanka as the left-hander Travis Head is sidelined due to a hamstring injury.

Maxwell, who last played for Australia in the longest format of the game five years, can make a surprising return to the format as he has been called to join the injury-hit touring side for the forthcoming Test series.

Maxwell is poised to make his return to Test cricket on Wednesday in Galle with Travis Head questionable and Ashton Agar virtually out of the first Test of the series.

While Agar is dealing with a side strain and has designated the second Test as the earliest possible return date, left-handed batter Head suffered a hamstring injury earlier this week in the ODI series.

Apart from Maxwell, Mitch Marsh and Josh Inglis are the other candidates to fill up Head’s No. 5 spot if the latter fails to recover in time.

Furthermore, according to cricket.com.au, Jon Holland, Matthew Kuhnemann and Todd Murphy will all remain in Sri Lanka in order to assist the Test match preparations and to adapt to the experience of playing in the subcontinent.

It is pertinent to mention here that Australia will take on Sri Lanka in two Tests from June 29 to July 12.

Sri Lanka Test squad: Dimuth Karunaratne (c), Pathum Nissanka, Kamil Mishara, Oshada Fernando, Kusal Mendis, Angelo Mathews, Dhananjaya De Silva, Kamindu Mendis, Niroshan Dickwella, Dinesh Chandimal, Chamika Karunaratne, Ramesh Mendis, Mohamed Shiraz, Shiran Fernando, Dilshan Madushanka, Lahiru Kumara, Kasun Rajitha, Vishwa Fernando, Asitha Fernando, Jeffrey Vandersay, Lakshitha Rasanjana, Praveen Jayawickrama, Lasith Embuldeniya, Suminda Lakshan

Australia Test squad: Pat Cummins (c), Ashton Agar, Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Glenn Maxwell, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Mitchell Swepson, David Warner

Test Series Schedule

June 29 – July 3: First Test, Galle
July 8-12: Second Test, Galle

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Glenn Maxwell tests COVID-19 positive amid BBL chaos

MELBOURNE: The Big Bash League (BBL)’s COVID-19 crisis exacerbated after Melbourne Stars’ skipper – Glenn Maxwell, became the team’s 13th victim for the virus.

In a press release, Cricket Australia (CA) confirmed the news of the all-rounder’s contraction to the widely spread virus. According to CA, hours later Maxwell’s positive test, Melbourne Renegades became the fifth BBL franchise to report a COVID-19 case, this season.

The 33-years-old will isolate himself for the mandatory seven day period and will be able to participate in the upcoming matches after returning a negative result.

On the other hand, the mandatory seven-day isolation for most Stars players who contracted the virus during the initial outbreak will end in the coming days, which means Adam Zampa, Marcus Stoinis, and Nathan Coulter-Niles may get released.

READ: COVID-19 rocks Big Bash League’s ongoing edition