Mocked no more: Destroyer-in-chief Glenn Maxwell now a vital cog for Australia

Glenn Maxwell’s beguiling batting merits inclusion into a rarefied category. He has catapulted into a select group reserved for those cricketers who are absolutely compelling viewing. In other words, neglect whatever you’re facing – work, chores or an angry spouse – and ensure you’re tuning in when Maxwell is at the crease because something entertaining and eccentric is bound to eventuate. Do not miss even one delivery for fear of regret.

The Australian all-rounder’s furious batting has been one of the most memorable aspects of the World Cup’s opening month. Maxwell’s scintillating form, highlighted by an eclectic array of outrageous shots, reached a crescendo when he eviscerated Sri Lanka at the SCG to record his maiden ODI century off just 51 balls – the fastest ever hundred by an Australian. The hapless Sri Lankans could only ruefully watch Maxwell continually pepper the ball into the boundaries and spectators.

Until recently, Maxwell was one of Australia’s most derided players. He was a punchline. Part of the bile stemmed from when he landed a lucrative US$1 million contract during the 2013 Indian Premier League auction. Many in Australia howled that he was not deserving of his rich pay day.

Maxwell was little known at the time, having only made his ODI debut a mere six months earlier. He was seen as a spare parts cricketer at best, who could occasionally slog the ball over the fence. For cricket purists, he was seen as a by-product of T20 and encapsulated everything wrong with cricket’s new sleek generation. Maxwell lacked substance and his limited technique would ensure he was destined to become a specialist T20 freelancer, the cynics bellowed.

Inevitably, more scorn was hurled at Maxwell late last year after he was recalled to Australia’s Test team against Pakistan during their ill-fated tour of the UAE. Maxwell batted at three and made scores of 37 and 4. Never mind that Australia was once again thrashed and their batsmen, bar David Warner and Steve Smith, were being befuddled on the low and slow pitch. Maxwell was the whipping boy. Of course, it was his fault for Australia’s failures.

Even former Australian captain Kim Hughes joined the verbal bashing of Maxwell. “I mean his effort was diabolical,” Hughes said on Perth radio at the time. “He’s alright in the Twenty20, absolutely, but he shouldn’t even be considered for anything else.”

Perhaps only now has Maxwell started to erode his perception as a clownish cricketer - a player befitting the madcap T20 format but lacking the nuance to succeed at the longer formats. Maxwell is easy to ridicule, after all one of his monikers is the ‘The Big Show’, which is often derisively amended to ‘The No Show’ after he disappoints.

Maxwell, who prefers the nickname ‘Maxi’, exudes being innately blasé. At the crease, Maxwell languidly crouches in his stance with his legs splayed apart. His casual demeanour makes him appear like he’s having a carefree hit at a suburban park on a Sunday morning in a bid to shake off the stupor from a big night.

But former Australia coach Mickey Arthur believes Maxwell’s relaxed demeanour is a façade after working closely with him. Arthur recalls being initially awestruck by Maxwell’s professionalism. He instantly knew there was more to Maxwell than just a T20 slogger and strongly advocated for him to be given a chance at the longer formats. The Victorian thus made his ODI and Test debuts under Arthur’s reign.

“I was always very impressed by the way Maxwell prepared and he has immense cricket knowledge,” Arthurs tells Firstpost. “People don’t realise he has a deep understanding of the game. He studies the game and his own performance meticulously. Maxwell cares about the game and he doesn’t want the show pony status. That’s all just media hype.”

It’s easy to be roundly chastised in this social media era and Maxwell has been often caught in the viciousness because he is prone to throwing away his wicket with idiotic shots. Instead of being perturbed by the nastiness, Maxwell seems to have quietly honed his game.

After a disappointing Big Bash campaign, many pundits criticised Maxwell’s selection in Australia’s World Cup squad. But Maxwell’s confidence has soared since producing perhaps his best innings of his career in the Tri-Series against England at the WACA.

Coming in at 4-60, Maxwell smartly rebuilt the innings before launching into the English attack to score 95 from 98 deliveries. It was well below his career ODI strike rate of 125 but, more importantly, it was the first sense that Maxwell was learning how to bat in different gears.

Maxwell’s potential is limitless and his frenetic batting is proving particularly lethal if Australia’s top order lays a platform. Two significant rule changes in ODI cricket makes Maxwell even more valuable. With only four fielders outside the circle at all times, Maxwell’s ability to hit all around the wicket allows him to target those wide open spaces. Also, two new balls means the ball is still hard later in the innings ensuring Maxwell can get full value for his brutish shots.

Some believe Maxwell is Australia’s Shahid Afridi, which can be construed as a compliment or an insult depending on where you stand on the Pakistani veteran. But Maxwell’s career arc is starting to replicate Andrew Symonds. They both share similar all-round skill-sets – handy off spin and energetic fielding – and can intimate bowlers with their destructiveness.

Symonds started his career notoriously slowly before famously turning it around with a breathtaking maiden century against Pakistan to open the 2003 World Cup. For the next five years, Symonds became arguably Australia’s most important ODI player and even carved out a regular Test spot at number six for a few years.

Symonds was 27 when he starred at the 2003 World Cup. Maxwell is now aged 26. Before the World Cup, Maxwell averaged around 30 from 41 matches. Symonds averaged 27 after 41 matches but finished his career averaging nearly 40 with more than 5000 runs.

Arthurs believes Maxwell can replicate Symonds’ deeds. “He does remind me of Andrew in his ability to be a match-winner and his clean striking,” Arthurs says. “I think Glenn can handle the short ball better than Andrew did, so that can even make him more dangerous. Glenn’s ability to play 360 degrees round the wicket is incredible and reminds me of AB de Villiers.”

Maxwell’s prominence has propelled him back into Test calculations, and Arthur is confident the Victorian can succeed in five-day cricket. “He has a good technique and can keep good balls out,” Arthur says. “It’s all about finding the right balance in his shot making and I think he is starting to get that right. There is no reason why he can’t be a really good Test player for a long time.”