What will you do if you are given a million dollars? What would be a hypothetical question for most has overnight become a fiscally pleasing dilemma facing hard-hitting Australian batsman Glenn Maxwell, the top buy in Sunday's IPL VI auction.
A day after getting a golden duck, against West Indies on Saturday, Maxwell was all glitter as the Mumbai Indians bought him for $1 million. Now, what will he do with that money?
In the age-old moral impasse between wants and needs, it's the latter that's more pressing. The 24-year-old was bought for his ability to hit the cricket ball a long distance, but compared to the miles on his car's odometer that's just a drop in the ocean.
Speaking to HT over phone from Melbourne, Maxwell's grade cricket club coach Lloyd Mash jokingly shared what should be his first buy - a pair of hot wheels. "A million dollars is a good deal, I reckon he can buy a good car now, he's been driving a 15-year-old Nissan Maxima for too long!" Mash said lightheartedly.
Right Advice
If he needs an upgrade from the old sedan, he's got the right set of teammates to help him scope out a fine set of wheels. Sachin Tendulkar is a noted auto buff and was until recently the owner of a Ferrari while Harbhajan Singh has a collection of hot rides, including a Hummer.
Right Advice
If he needs an upgrade from the old sedan, he's got the right set of teammates to help him scope out a fine set of wheels. Sachin Tendulkar is a noted auto buff and was until recently the owner of a Ferrari while Harbhajan Singh has a collection of hot rides, including a Hummer.
And if Maxwell wants to play it safe and wait before he goes into overdrive there's another option, what with Mumbai Indians purchasing a further three Australians (Ricky Ponting, Phillip Hughes and Nathan Coulter-Nile), carpooling!
Mash, who played first-class cricket for Victoria, added on a more serious note that the grounded Maxwell wasn't the kind to go for impulse splurges.
"He's a level-headed bloke. The money will be good, but I doubt if he'll lose much sleep wondering how to spend it. Cricket is his priority, the rest is just a bonus," said Mash, who has worked with Maxwell since he joined Melbourne club, Fitzroy Doncaster, at 19.