Maxwell proved Test pedigree: Renshaw
ranchi — Limited-overs specialist Glenn Maxwell’s composed unbeaten 82 in the third test against India proved the explosive all-rounder has what it takes to succeed in the long format, Australia team mate Matt Renshaw said on Thursday.
It took a shoulder injury to Mitchell Marsh to enable Maxwell to return for his first test in more than two years and the flamboyant all-rounder, nicknamed “The Big Show”, responded with a mature career-best test knock, putting on a series-high 159 runs with skipper Steve Smith for the fifth wicket.
Asked about the 28-year-old’s new-found maturity, Renshaw said, “I’ve never personally played with him so I’m not sure if it’s normal or something different. I think he’s pretty calm and relaxed and showed he could play well, and he did well today.”
“I guess you’d have to ask Glenn what the difference is. But he’s a class player and he showed that he could do it in test cricket today. Hopefully, he can continue that tomorrow.”
Such was Maxwell’s self-restraint that the right-hander took 57 balls to score his first boundary. Glimpses of his natural aggression manifested when he clobbered Ravindra Jadeja for two sixes — the first bringing up his maiden test fifty — but only once did he employ the risky reverse sweep and largely steered clear of extravagance.
Asked whether he was surprised by the Victorian’s largely risk-free batting, Renshaw said, “You hear about this in the media a lot, that he is a bit of a cowboy sort of thing. I think he just played some good cricket shots today.” —