What has got me stuffed is why people in high places are enthralled by the "X factor" that Maxwell allegedly has. Test cricket isn't a tv reality talent show.
By batting players such as Maxwell at 4, what we are in effect saying is to hell with the art of batsmanship and welcome to cricket's version of Monty Python's Flying Circus. You think about the days you'd see a number 4 walk in at 2/34, understanding it's a 5 day Test match, not a 10 minute net session. He would play himself in, getting used to the conditions, the pace of the wicket, bounce, etc. Each new bowler would be treated with an air of respect, no shot pre-determined. Each ball played on its merits.
He would often play the V for the first 20 minutes or so and then begin to branch out. Runs could be attained by quick singles, not having to put every second ball into or over the fence. And much later in the afternoon, if the batsman had succeeded, we would be applauding a well crafted 100, and hopeful he could turn it into a big 100. Maxwell seems to think he needs 100 before lunch.
I still recall Greg Chappell's debut Test innings. Sure, he batted 7 that day, but the circumstances were similar. Chasing 397, the Aussies were in all sorts of trouble when Chappell walked in at 5/107. Lawry, Stackpole, Walters and Sheahan had all gone for single digit scores, only his brother Ian had got a start with 50. Chappell knew two things. Australia could not afford to lose another wicket, and he had all the time in the world to play himself in.
He took 40 minutes to get off the mark and it's history now he went on to make 108 on debut, adding 219 for the 6th wicket with Ian Redpath. This is why Greg Chappell developed into one of the great number 4 batsmen in Test history. We need that kind of approach to return to Test cricket.
I'd have no problem with Maxwell taking his batting talents into the Australian team at 8 or 9. He could possibly swing Test matches with breezy 50s from there. However, the snag is, he needs to be able to bowl. This is my major criticism. A few years back, Ashley Mallett, an off spinner with considerable standing, told us all about this talent named Glenn Maxwell. He virtually proclaimed Maxwell to be the great white hope of Australian spin bowling.
Eager to see him, I sat down to watch him bowl for the first time. I saw nothing more than a nets bowler. Nude ball after nude ball. To say I was disappointed is an understatement. I'm thinking, "Mallett can see something in this guy I'm just not getting, so I'll keep watching". I have and seen nothing to alter my opinion. Just a straight breaking pie chucker you'd see in the local 2nd XIs around the country.
I don't know about this X Factor stuff, I'm not even sure what it means. I know David Warner has the WOW factor, and he has been able to adapt his considerable talents to be able to succeed in Test cricket. Someone really needs to have a long talk with Maxwell and find out if he's got the right stuff, otherwise we're wasting our time.