Don’t get me wrong. I have been a big fan of Glenn Maxwell ever since he lit up IPL 2014 compiling 552 runs inclusive of 36 sixers for Kings XI Punjab at a strike rate of 187.75 along with David Miller (446 runs with a strike rate of 149.15). He didn’t shine in the final against Kolkata Knight Riders, getting out for a first-ball duck, but then again, Wriddhiman Saha’s unbeaten 115 in just 55 balls meant that he didn’t have much work to do in office that day, arriving at the crease only at the end of the 18th over. For the record, KKR reached the target of 200 in 19.3 over on the back of Manish Pandey’s 94 off 50 balls.
A few hours ago, in a crucial World Cup match at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, India, Glenn Maxwell played the best innings of his ODI career, his 201*, the first by an Australian, took his team to an improbable win over Afghanistan. Already it is being hailed as the greatest ever batting performance in ODIs.
When he came into bat Australia were reeling at 49 for 4 in 8.2 overs. When the 7the wicket fell at 98, Australia still had to get 194 in 32.8 at just under a run-a-ball. The required run rate was gettable, but Maxwell had to bat with the tail; his skipper Pat Cummins, Adam Zampa and Josh Hazlewood had ODI averages of 13.26, 9.5 and 17.28 respectively.
When Cummins walked in, Maxwell was on 22 off 26 deliveries. By the time his heroics were done, Maxwell had scored 179 and Cummings just 12 off 68, valiant in his own right. It was reminiscent of Kusal Janith Perera’s epic 153* to secure a test victory against South Africa in 2019 with Vishwa Fernando contributing a vital 7 runs in a last wicket stand of 78.
Don’t get me wrong, I was not happy when Afghanistan beat Sri Lanka a few days ago. I was disappointed at Angelo Matthews becoming the first ever ‘time-outed’ batsman in the match against Bangladesh. I am old enough to remember Sri Lanka’s controversial tour of Australia in the run up to the 1996 World Cup and know enough of the game to find Aussie sledging and gamesmanship unpalatable, but these didn’t figure here. I was not looking to support another team now that Sri Lanka cannot reach the semi-final stage. Simply, for me, Afghanistan is a South Asian country. Simply, for me, the Australians were the favourites and in neutral games I support the unfavored.
I can’t get into the heads and hearts of Afghan fans at this point, even though I’ve known heartbreaking losses extracted from the jaws of victory. Something in me wants South Asian teams to do well. Call it silly regionalism, but that’s how it is.
Yes, there’s India but ‘India’ comes with the BCCI and that is a big detract. India is there already, unbeaten and seemingly invincible. They will not be tagged ‘underdogs’ the rest of the tournament. Sri Lanka and Bangladesh are out. Pakistan and Afghanistan stand with 8 points each along with New Zealand who have the best net run rate of the three. Obviously I want Sri Lanka to end the tournament with a bang and a win over New Zealand in the final match would be sweet. It would mean that Afghanistan and Pakistan both increase their chances of making it to the semi-final stage.
Afghanistan takes on South Africa and Pakistan will go up against beleaguered England. I won’t go into the ‘scenarios.’ Cricinfo can do that. There’s something to hope for, still, and that’s consolation enough for me on this strange, strange day of being absolutely awestruck by Glenn Maxwell even as my heart weeps for Afghanistan.
So even as I applaud without reservation his courageous and determined performance (he was also carrying an injury, let’s not forget), I must write this down: Glenn Maxwell, an Australian, broke my Sri Lankan heart in India when he single-handedly denied the dauntless Afghans.
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