Ashes 2017 - Steve Waugh believes Glenn Maxwell can be a ‘force’ in Test cricket

[giri26]

WITH a little faith from selectors, Steve Waugh believes Glenn Maxwell can be a Test force at No.6 for Australia.

Maxwell’s place in the national side is again uncertain after Australia coach Darren Lehmann confirmed the Test No.6 spot was up for grabs ahead of the Ashes.

Maxwell and Hilton Cartwright were the latest batsmen trialled in the middle order during the Test series in Bangladesh.

Overall 20 have had a crack since Mike Hussey’s 2013 retirement.

And the turnover may continue for the Ashes opener in Brisbane next month with the Marsh brothers, Travis Head, Nic Maddinson, Moises Henriques and Marcus Stoinis also vying for the No.6 spot against England.

Maxwell has failed to notch a half century in seven innings since his first Test ton in March.

But former national captain Waugh believed Maxwell could be a success if selectors stuck by him for the entire Ashes series.

“He’s inconsistent but he’s a match winner and there are not too many of them around,” Waugh told AAP.

“If he’s managed the right way he can be a force in Test match cricket, there’s no doubt about that.

“He’s got all the shots. He needs to work on his mental side of his game, his concentration and his shot selection.

“If he does that he will score a lot of runs.”

Maxwell played both Tests in Bangladesh but was surprisingly dumped after three games in the ensuing five-match ODI series against India.

Maxwell was axed after twice being stumped trying to charge Indian leg spinner Yuzvendra Chahal.

Waugh admitted Maxwell needed to work on his shot selection.

But Waugh believed the man dubbed The Big Show needed a show of faith from selectors.

“He’s got what it takes but he makes it hard for people to understand him because he is so inconsistent,” Waugh said.

“One minute he is capable of brilliance and the next he will do something that doesn’t justify playing at that level.

“His technique is good, he gets runs at Shield level, he’s scored a Test match hundred — he’s got the ability.

“With him he looks like a confidence player so if he gets picked I would say to him ‘you are playing every Test match’ and then you will get the benefit.”

https://www.foxsports.com.au/cricke...t/news-story/c779a8ca25dcb15aeebd1b9db41b3d90

 

[giri26]

"Big Show" Tightening Up His Act

Glenn Maxwell is hoping to play a key role in the Ashes series with his batting being an integral part of the outcome.

His often wild style has drawn criticism from experts far and wide, but Maxwell says he has worked on his technique which will pay off during the summer.

“I looked back at a lot of footage and I noticed a few things creeping into my game,” Maxwell told reporters.

“It was a little bit frustrating watching myself bat and going ‘I don’t like what I see there’.

“I spent a lot of time behind closed doors doing it myself and I felt like I got a lot out of my training.

“I was probably a bit burnt out before I got to Darwin (for a camp ahead of the Bangladesh Tests in August-September) but all the hard work in the long term I’m sure will show through.”

Despite not being able to put any major runs on the board since his debut Test hundred in March, Maxwell isn’t concerned with the output.

“I trained really hard over the off-season away from the group and did my own thing, and really honed a technique that could bat a long period of time,” he said.

“I changed a few things technically to make sure I had a solid defence that could sustain long periods of pressure. (I was) making sure I’m not as loose with my hands.

“I had a very one-day technique where I was able to sort of work the ball sideways with my hands and I got rid of that and made sure I was holding my shape a lot longer.”

Maxwell believes the changes he has implemented to strengthen his batting technique will see him remain in the Baggy Green for a long time.

“I’ve made no secret of the fact I’m really confident in the red-ball format,” he said.

“It’d be a huge personal accomplishment to hold my spot in the Test team after I’ve had a fair few doubters, especially in the long form of the game.

“There’s three Shield games and a lot of guys trying to put their hands up for that (number six) position. There’s been some guys play some good cricket in that position as well, and there’s some good healthy rivalry for it. Whoever plays well hopefully plays well in the Ashes.

“I’ll still be thinking about what’s best for Victoria and making sure I’m playing my role for them. What happens after that happens, I can’t control that. I’m just trying to make sure I score some runs.”

http://www.news.com.au/sport/cricke...e/news-story/2da2040948c3fb80236d4a907ef081ee

 

[pakistanigoneaussie]

a bit amazing he is already 29

hasnt done justice to his ability in odis let alone tests

 

[Bilal7]

They need to find a new keeper, have him bat at #6 and bat Maxwell at #7, as a batting all-rounder.

That would allow them to finally play Starc, Hazlewood, Cummins and Pattingson in the same team. This will be especially useful in South Africa, where a couple of the pitches should be green. Do you think we'll ever see the quartet bowl together? [MENTION=132373]Convict[/MENTION]

 

[Convict]

They need to find a new keeper, have him bat at #6 and bat Maxwell at #7, as a batting all-rounder.

That would allow them to finally play Starc, Hazlewood, Cummins and Pattingson in the same team. This will be especially useful in South Africa, where a couple of the pitches should be green. Do you think we'll ever see the quartet bowl together? [MENTION=132373]Convict[/MENTION]

No. Selecting four quicks is a bad idea anyway even if we ignored over rates which we can't.

Maxwell's bowling is also really not up to being the main spinner and in any case South Africa haven't beaten us in a test series in South Africa since the early 70s so its not like we need to change our attacks for that.

Also I personally don't think Pattinson will ever play test cricket again anyway.

 

[giri26]

Ashes 2017 - Glenn Maxwell hopes technique change is the answer

Glenn Maxwell plans to stand tall in more ways than one this summer as he targets his first ever Ashes series and his maiden Test on home soil.

Maxwell is one of the leading contenders to fill the vacant No.6 role for the first Magellan Ashes Test but is currently stuck in a run drought that has seen him go without a half-century in all forms of the game since his breakthrough Test ton against India last February.

The right-hander desperately needs a score of substance in the remaining two JLT Sheffield Shield matches ahead of the Gabba Test in order to push ahead of in-form WA duo Hilton Cartwright and Shaun Marsh as well as untried youngsters like NSW left-hander Daniel Hughes.

Having spent most of the year on low wickets in the subcontinent, Maxwell has revealed he's made some subtle changes to his technique now that he's back on the bouncier Australian wickets.

"I've changed a few things in the last couple of weeks," he said ahead of Victoria’s Shield clash against South Australia at the MCG, starting on Saturday. "I've changed my stance slightly and where I hold the bat.

"It's a slight change but I've already noticed watching some footage back that it's tightened my defence a little bit and made me hit the ball a little bit straighter.

"When you're in the subcontinent, you crouch quite low and you can end up using your hands a lot. Even looking back on footage of my hundred in Ranchi (against India), I was quite low the whole time. When you get back to Australia, you've got to be a little bit taller to make sure you're hitting the ball straight.
"It was something I'd noticed had crept into my game ... I've been able to drive the ball a little bit better once I've stood a bit taller."

Coach Darren Lehmann and captain Steve Smith have made it abundantly clear in the media that Shield runs early in the season will hold plenty of weight when selectors come to settling on the No.6 for the first Test.

Maxwell says he hasn't been given any specific messages from the selection panel, saying the public memo is loud and clear.

"Not at all and I wouldn't expect it either," he said when asked if he'd spoken to selectors personally about the race for the No.6 spot.

"I think it's pretty self-explanatory with what they've said, they want runs from all the batters around the country so they have options to pick.

"And all that is out of my control, what happens in a couple of weeks’ time."

Despite being short of runs, the technical changes Maxwell has made have given him confidence that the big score he needs is imminent.

He made just 7 and 20 in the opening Shield round against Queensland last week and with just two matches remaining before the Test squad is named, time is running out.

"With those technical changes I felt really good in the second innings in Brisbane and I started to drive the ball like I used to and my defence was tight," he said.

"I felt really comfortable but unfortunately I top-edged a pull shot, which I haven't done much recently.

"Unfortunately, you make one mistake and that can be the end.
"But I feel really good and I feel like a big score is just around the corner."

http://www.cricket.com.au/news/glen...ia-south-australia-selection-ashes/2017-11-03