Pakistan vs Australia (in the UAE)

Oaktree

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As frustrating as Maxwell can be when he goes out like he did yesterday, he is so damn good to watch!

It's kinda like watching a cross between an aggressive top order batsman like Sehwag and a lower order pinch hitter like Afridi.
 

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Adelaide Hawk

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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.
 

The GOAT

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Maxwell has only played a couple of tests. Give him a chance before completely dismissing him, I think he'll learn how to adapt his game plan with the bat over time
 

ObieWan

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As frustrating as Maxwell can be when he goes out like he did yesterday, he is so damn good to watch!

It's kinda like watching a cross between an aggressive top order batsman like Sehwag and a lower order pinch hitter like Afridi.
Couldn't give a stuff about entertainment value. Test cricket is about making the most of the situation and batting long periods when required. If you want sixes, go watch T20. I'll take an 80 in a full days play if it means the player in question is not out.
 

bird_man

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I'm pretty confident Maxwell with adapt with time and become a good Test player; the talent is there, the FC numbers are starting to be there etc.
People would kill for his technique, definitely one of the best in the country and has a fantastic eye. Unfortunately he just feels like he has to be scoring all the time, which you would think the coaches would be able to work with him in time.

I thought going after the bowlers early yesterday was a good idea, he had the field spread and the pressure was off. He could have spent the rest of the session pushing 1's and 2's but unfortunately he kept going. He will learn with time. More talent in this little finger than others we have tried out of late.

We can dismiss him being a number 3 though. Absolute madness to have him batting in that position. Selectors gone mad.
Totally agreed, he should be batting at 5 or 6. Clarke and the selectors seem to think it's a good idea to throw in new players at number 3 (Marsh, Maxwell, Khawaja, Doolan, Quiney etc.) when in fact they should be doing their apprenticeship at 5 or 6 and working their way up (Smith).
 

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PrideOf

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People would kill for his technique, definitely one of the best in the country and has a fantastic eye. Unfortunately he just feels like he has to be scoring all the time, which you would think the coaches would be able to work with him in time.
This. For Test Cricket, he may have the talent, he may have the technique but he sure as **** doesn't have the temperament. Numbers 3 and 4 definitely need the temperament and you can't teach temperament.

That's not his fault - he's being paid a small fortune to be a slogger in T20, and he's then built up by the cricket fanboi media for being a slogger. Calling him The Show (or whatever weak as piss nickname they've given him) just plays up to that.

The cricketer to compare his batting to is Gilchrist. Gilly was a success because he came in a 7, behind a batting line-up that had already compiled 5-400. Then he could go nuts and just pile it on. Gilly would have sucked as a number 4 coming in at 2-20 on a regular basis.
 

bird_man

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It seems that no one no here is arguing that he does not have the talent and the technique, he showed yesterday that he plays fantastic cricket shots. Everyone seems to agree (and even the Maxwell fans) that his temperament is his problem. I just think out of everything, that would be one thing you could teach. Time will tell.
 

ObieWan

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It seems that no one no here is arguing that he does not have the talent and the technique, he showed yesterday that he plays fantastic cricket shots. Everyone seems to agree (and even the Maxwell fans) that his temperament is his problem. I just think out of everything, that would be one thing you could teach. Time will tell.
I'm arguing he doesn't have the technique. He doesn't have a Test technique and I doubt he ever will. More holes in his defense than Brad Haddin, and by gee his is just awful.

And he nicknamed himself the big show. Guy is a flog in real life.
 

bird_man

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I'm arguing he doesn't have the technique. He doesn't have a Test technique and I doubt he ever will. More holes in his defense than Brad Haddin, and by gee his is just awful.

And he nicknamed himself the big show. Guy is a flog in real life.
I couldn't care less if the bloke is a flog or not. I am aware you are very keen to see he fail, but time will tell.

By the way, where did you hear he gave himself his own nick name? Bigfooty?
 
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ROOTA#6

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I'm arguing he doesn't have the technique. He doesn't have a Test technique and I doubt he ever will. More holes in his defense than Brad Haddin, and by gee his is just awful.

And he nicknamed himself the big show. Guy is a flog in real life.
Pretty sure he didn't nickname himself and that it was a commentator...maybe even Damien Fleming who started it. Had spoken to him a couple of times not long after it all started and he didn't seem to like it..
 

The GOAT

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I think many of the comments being made about Maxwell now would have been made about Warner a few years ago.... He certainly showed he could have an impact at test level despite being classed as a 20/20 specialist by many. Maxwell should be given a few tests to see if he has what it takes.
 

bird_man

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The_Reaper

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As frustrating as Maxwell can be when he goes out like he did yesterday, he is so damn good to watch!

It's kinda like watching a cross between an aggressive top order batsman like Sehwag and a lower order pinch hitter like Afridi.
I'd take watching Marsh's innings any day.
 

ObieWan

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I'm curious how you know this? I have read many articles about Wade giving him that nickname but if you were there or know the story please enlighten us?
He referred to himself as the big show long before he met Wade. He's just realised it actually makes him sound like the tosser he is, so is trying to shed the skin.
 

philreich

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Sometimes statistics can lie, but not these ones. So far in the series, Pakistan has amassed 1371 runs and lost just 20 wickets in doing so (68.55 runs per wicket). On the other hand, Australia has just 780 runs and has lost all 30 wickets (26 per wicket). It's been a massacre of epic proportions!!!!!!
 

bird_man

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He referred to himself as the big show long before he met Wade. He's just realised it actually makes him sound like the tosser he is, so is trying to shed the skin.
I'm curious to know how you know this though? I've read many articles that say the nickname came from Wade but nothing saying he gave the name to himself. If you know something the rest of us don't please share?
 
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