The privilege of trailing Maxwell’s madness from debut to his last ODI

By K.R. Nayar 

Glenn Maxwell has called it a day. He was one of the finest demolishers of bowling that the game has ever seen – a legend of limited-overs cricket. He could transform a respectable bowling attack into a collection of bewildered men as to what has hit them.  I have had the rare honour of having reported his first international match when he made his ODI debut at Sharjah on August 25, 2012, against Afghanistan. I was fortunate to report his T20I debut against Pakistan on September 5, 2012, in Dubai, and his last ODI match against India, 13 years later, on March 4, 2025, at the same venue during the ICC Champions Trophy.

But reporting his unbeaten knock of 201 against Afghanistan at the Wankhede Stadium on November 7, 2023, was an absolute joy. This knock is hailed as one of the finest match-winning innings ever played. It took Australia into the semi-finals of the ICC Cricket World Cup and they eventually emerged champions, beating India in the final at Ahmedabad. 

Having reported many of his matches around the world, including some of his match- winning  performances is a rare honour, something that perhaps only a handful of Australian journalists may have achieved.

There is always a buzz when Maxwell walks out to bat because he is capable of producing the most unexpected shots. It was this unpredictability that prompted a few fans to call him “Mad Max”, although that was the nickname of Sri Lankan batting legend Aravinda de Silva. Aravinda had earned it during his 1986 tour of India through his aggressive and unorthodox batting style. Maxwell, who produced hits that earned him maximum attention, eventually acquired the nicknames “Maxi” and “The Big Show”. 

His retirement is indeed a sad day, given that we will no longer be able to witness his Big Show in international cricket.

My report on his unbeaten 201 in the ICC World Cup 2023

One of his biggest shows was undoubtedly his unbeaten 201, during which he endured agonising cramps and was unable to move one of his legs. He lifted Australia from 91 for 7 while chasing 292 and ensured a three-wicket victory with 19 balls to spare. His innings demonstrated how, when the legs give up, the heart can take over. It was also an innings through which he showed that footwork is not essential to hit sixes or boundaries; all that is needed is an indomitable will to win.

Invariably, neither the bowler nor the fielding captain would have any clue about the kind of shot from Maxwell. ‘Max-imising’ his abilities has always been his approach to the game. He often hit sixes by quickly switching to a left-handed stance, leaving everyone wondering how he managed to generate such power behind those shots. His scoop shots were executed with surgical precision. When he was at the crease, no one could dare to predict that the opposition would emerge as the winner.

Bravery, mastery and timing were among his greatest qualities. We have seen batters hit plenty of sixes, but Maxwell would leave spectators wondering where he would dispatch the next delivery. He could send the ball soaring into the stands in the most unexpected areas of the ground. His greatest contribution was perhaps inspiring a generation of cricketers to think beyond conventional batting techniques.

Maxwell has the rare ability to wield a cricket bat like a tennis racquet and has even hit the ball over the bowler's head. He created his own batting vocabulary. He was also one of the finest all-rounders, renowned for producing match-winning spells with his off-spin. He could bowl economically and change the rhythm of a match like he when he picked the wicket of Rohit Sharma in the 2023 World Cup final. His fielding was equally brilliant. He was athletic, alert and blessed with a powerful throwing arm.

Maxwell is expected to continue enthralling audiences in T20 leagues, including the Big Bash League with the Melbourne Stars. The international curtain may have come down on “The Big Show” from Maxwell, but the show he put on will never see its curtain fall in our memories.