Hello friends,
November 2023 will be remembered by sporting world majorly for a remarkable men's ODI cricket world cup campaign in India. World cup year is always special for the champions and 2023 turned out to be even more special for the Australians as they sealed twin world titles, world test championship & ODI world cup. I have already discussed Australia's performance in this year's world cup in my previous post (Click here for the detailed post). This edition of Sports talk of the month features one of the individual performance from Australia's winning campaign that can very well be termed as the well timed catalyst for them for a sixth ODI world cup title.
The Glenn Maximum Show
Over the years we have witnessed several match winning performances across cricketing formats by individuals. Men's ODI cricket world cup 2023 witnessed an innings that will be remembered for the ages as one of the most unbelievable innings played by an individual. That innings is not just another score made by a cricketer, rather a very well scripted example of turning adversity into prosperity.
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| Glenn Maxwell Image Credit:davidmolloyphotography.com/flickr.com |
Glenn Maxwell is no stranger to difficult situations in white ball cricket. In fact he has blossomed at the global stage by playing fearless cricket during crunch moments. His match winning knock against Afghanistan in the recently concluded ODI world cup shifted the momentum in his team's favor big time just before the knockout games. The courage he showed in that innings was beyond explanation.
Nobody has given Australia a chance during their batting innings after loosing seven wickets with almost another 200 runs to get. That was the time when Maxwell teamed up with his captain Cummins and created history. Afghanistan would definitely be disappointed after missing out on crucial opportunities to get Maxwell out. But after those few nervy moments he was at his own and did what nobody could imagine. Struggling with continuous cramps he was in severe pain. But that pain could not deviate his focus from winning the game for his team and entering the semis in style.
His last hundred odd runs came almost standing on a single leg when he was hardly able to move or run. Despite that the kind of shots he played was probably not possible for anybody else to play even on two legs. It was the first international double hundred by an Australian men's cricketer in ODIs. There couldn't have been a better moment for doing so. Not to forget the role of Pat Cummins in that partnership as there was not much batting left after him. He ensured that he held on to his crease to allow his partner to do what he does best.
Australian head coach Andrew McDonald has admitted further that several coaches at different level form his country has expressed their concerns as they don't have an answer to explain the shots played by Maxi during that innings to junior cricketers. Instead of trying out his shots junior cricketers can definitely take inspiration from the innings on how to fight against the odds and make your country proud. In many ways that innings is a memorable one as it shows how a strong will power can triumph over any sort of circumstances in life.
Maxwell had been criticized in past due to the lack of responsibility he has shown several times while batting. He probably could have won a few more matches on his own for the respective teams he has played for. But that is past. This version of him where as a genuine all rounder for his team he played an important role with both bat and ball has surprised many for sure. The Australian team and the franchises he represents across the globe would expect him to continue the same way to win them few more titles.
Stay tuned for more at this space.
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