While the Australian squad has clinched five World Cup championships, Glenn Maxwell’s performance guaranteed that their victory over Afghanistan will remain a standout moment.
On Tuesday, Glenn Maxwell authored a story characterized by resilience, boldness, and unwavering cricketing talent, guiding Australia to a remarkable three-wicket victory over Afghanistan. The versatile Australian cricketer scored an unbeaten 201 in a pursuit of 292 runs, and it’s no surprise that numerous cricketers, both past and present, are already hailing this innings as one of the greatest ever. Perhaps, for once, it might not be an exaggeration; while Australia has clinched five World Cup titles, Maxwell’s exceptional performance ensured that the win against Afghanistan was among the sweetest and undeniably one of the most memorable moments in the tournament’s history.
The strongest argument for considering Glenn Maxwell’s exceptional innings as the “greatest” is that it took place in the World Cup, an event that significantly shapes players’ careers and legacies. Despite Australia being the clear favorites on paper against Afghanistan, they were struggling at 49/4 when Maxwell stepped onto the field. His very first delivery of the innings led to a review, driven more by emotions than cricketing judgment, as Azmatullah Omarzai was on a hat-trick at the time. Maxwell had edged the ball, which bounced once before reaching the keeper, prompting Afghanistan to request a review for a potential leg-before dismissal.
Australia’s situation continued to worsen as they fell to 91-7. Nevertheless, Maxwell had the opportunity to shine, even though he had been dropped twice at scores of 24 and 33. His journey to the historic double century was marked by various challenges, both external and internal.
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Maxwell’s innings was marked by drops, reviews, cramps, and physical agony. His running ability suffered as the innings progressed. When the requirement was reduced to 75 runs, he struggled to move his feet for shots. Despite these physical challenges, his remarkable display of hand-eye coordination and excellent ball-striking compensated for his limitations. Every single he managed to take received a standing ovation from the Wankhede Stadium crowd, highlighting his bravery.
His record-breaking 201* was the first instance in ODIs where an individual achieved a double century while chasing. What sets his achievement apart is that he accomplished this remarkable milestone as a non-opening batter, a first in the history of ODIs.
In the realm of cricket greatness, there have been iconic innings. In 1983, during the World Cup semi-final against Zimbabwe, Kapil Dev took charge when India was in a dire situation, scoring an unbeaten 175 off just 138 balls. This innings is still revered as one of the greatest in ODIs, even though it was never televised.
The following year, Vivian Richards, the West Indies legend, showcased his batting prowess with a 189 off 170 balls, considered one of the all-time great innings in ODIs. His power, elegance, and quick-fire style were ahead of his time. Over the years, there have been other standout performances, like Sachin Tendulkar’s desert storm (143 vs Australia), Herschelle Gibbs’ 175 in a record 435-run chase, and Rohit Sharma’s world-record 264.
Comparing Maxwell to these legends is challenging, as each innings has its own significance. However, the World Cup stage is hard to surpass. While Kapil faced a more dire situation when he came to the crease, he had the advantage of setting a target. In Maxwell’s case, it was an already daunting chase, and his physical limitations in the latter stage of the innings made his feat all the more remarkable.
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