World Cup 2023: The biggest show yet, Glenn Maxwell takes batting to a rarefied realm

First, the usual caveats.

Glenn Maxwell could have been dismissed at least four times in the first forty deliveries he faced against Afghanistan in Mumbai on Tuesday.

On the very first ball he faced, a hat-trick delivery, he edged Azmatullah Omarzai behind, with the ball not carrying to the wicket-keeper. When he was on 27, confusion prevailed between Rashid Khan and Afghan captain Hashmatullah Shahidi, leading to a top-edge falling between the two.

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A few deliveries later, he was adjudged leg-before-wicket to Noor Ahmad and was almost about to walk off when the Decision Review System came back, showing the ball going surprisingly over the stumps. And then perhaps, the most shocking reprieve – Mujeeb Ur Rahman dropping an absolute dolly at square leg.

In between, he ran out his partner Marnus Labuschangne over a misjudged single.

The “Big Show”, in the truest sense

Other batters might have quelled their natural verve under these circumstances. 91/7, semi-final spot at stake, only the No. 9 for company, Afghanistan and the entire Wankhede Stadium braying for a supercharged upset.

But really, Glenn Maxwell is special. “The Big Show” in the truest sense.

The shot to sum up his “believe-it-or-not” knock came deep in the innings. Australia were 249/7 in the 44th over, needing 43 off 40. Maxwell was hobbling – a couple of overs earlier, he had fallen flat on the ground after taking a run. Adam Zampa, the next batter in, was on the boundary line. And somehow, Maxwell picked himself up and carried on. It was agony to watch him play.

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