Bored shepherds clouting a taped ball with a piece of wood in ancient Britain was the genesis of cricket before it acquired sophistication and rules. In its most elementary form, it still remains what those bored lads with sheep to tend, did. Swinging a bat and sending the ball high into the skies or past a long distance.
That primordial touch still lingers in many batters, a trait that finds exposition in One Day Internationals and Twenty20s. Among the medley of batting marauders, Glenn Maxwell has carved a distinct niche. The Australian, with roots in Melbourne, plays a method that is sharpened with speed, kinetic energy, malleable limbs, especially hands, and astounding game-awareness.
After 35 summers of top-flight cricket, donning the Aussie yellow shade or varied jerseys in the Indian Premier League, Maxwell dipped into all that experience while hammering a chart-busting unbeaten 201 (128b, 21x4, 10x6) against a stunned Afghanistan at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium on November 7. Chasing Afghanistan’s 291 for five, Australia was sinking at 91 for seven when Maxwell found a patient ally in skipper Pat Cummins.
