For Glenn Maxwell, 2016 is turning out to be a horror year. He was left out of the ODI series against Sri Lanka and South Africa. Following his exclusion from the national team, Maxwell suffered even more embarrassment after he was left out of the Victorian squad for the Sheffield Shield game against Tasmania at the MCG in November.
Things reached a low point for Maxwell when he lamented that it was painful to bat below wicketkeeper Matthew Wade in the Victoria side. That remark earned him a fine, with Australian coach Darren Lehmann and skipper Steven Smith expressing their disappointment.
Maxwell was left out of the side for the Sydney ODI against New Zealand which Australia won by 68 runs. Ahead of the second ODI in Canberra tomorrow, the ‘Big Show’ – Maxwell’s nickname -- might warm the bench once again.
What has gone wrong with Glenn Maxwell?
In 2015, he had a fabulous ODI season, scoring over 600 runs at an average of 46 and playing a crucial role in Australia’s fifth World Cup triumph. In 2016, his ODI form dipped. He managed only 228 runs in 12 ODIs at an average of 25. Despite scoring 145 not out and 66 against Sri Lanka in two Twenty20 Internationals, his form in other formats has been patchy.
In the 2016 domestic one-day competition, Maxwell managed just 211 runs at an average of 30 for while in the Sheffield Shield, he has continued to struggle.
Lack of good advice
Former Australia batsman Dean Jones believes Maxwell’s problems are due to lack of proper advice and believes he needs a mentor.
Speaking at a book launch in Melbourne, former Australian batsman Jones said, “I don’t think you can be successful in international cricket without having someone you can speak honestly and candidly to. He’s a bit of a repeat offender and that’s hurting people.”
{{/usCountry}}Speaking at a book launch in Melbourne, former Australian batsman Jones said, “I don’t think you can be successful in international cricket without having someone you can speak honestly and candidly to. He’s a bit of a repeat offender and that’s hurting people.”
{{/usCountry}}Jones, who scored 6,068 runs in 164 ODIs for Australia from 1984 to 1994, added that getting advice from one particular person will go a long way in helping the player’s psyche.
“You want consistency in people around you to help get you where you want to go and protect you as much as you can,” he said.
Maxwell has also found support from Australian legspin legend, Shane Warne, who said the right-hander should be included in all three formats for Australia.
“Maxwell is a super talent. He’s going to play some ridiculous, stupid shots. But you’ve got to take the good with the bad because out of 10 games he plays, he’ll probably win you two off his own bat,” Warne remarked
With things not going his way in 2016, Will Maxwell turn the corner again in 2017?