Glenn Maxwell hasn't scored enough runs to bat higher up the order, believes Aaron Finch

Australian skipper Aaron Finch believes that Glenn Maxwell hasn’t scored enough runs or hasn’t done anything special to bat higher up the order ahead of Marcus Stoinis or Alex Carey. The statement from the skipper, which came just a few months before the World Cup, may jeopardize Maxwell’s chances of flying to England and Wales for the mega event.

The statement came after the third ODI between Australia and South Africa which the visitors won by 40 runs and hence the three-match series 2-1. Glenn Maxwell, who scored 35 off 27 balls, came into bat with 95 runs needed from 8.4 overs in the final ODI, but could not take his side home and was dismissed in the 49th over of the innings.

Finch was clearly not happy with the side’s dismal performance and termed the Australian team as “fairly one-dimensional side”. The skipper was clearly not happy with Maxwell’s performance in particular and wants him to prove his worth as an all-rounder if he wants to be part of the ODI setup.

Have a look at what Finch said

“If you look at Glenn’s stats recently, he probably hasn’t made as many runs as he would have liked as a pure batsman. Therefore for him to be in the side and as an all-rounder, he’s probably batting in that No.7 spot,” said Finch while taking in the post-match conference in Hobart. Finch strongly believes that Glenn Maxwell is not up to the mark just as a batsman, and the fact that Marcus Stoinis and Alex Carey have made their chances count, make things even tougher for him.

Both are performing exceptionally well and are doing justice to their inclusion in the side. “Guys are playing reasonably well around him,” said Finch, highlighting the efforts of Stoinis and Carey.” “‘Maxi’ would have liked some more runs, and obviously wants to bat higher.”

“But the reality is he’s in the side as a bit of an all-rounder but he hasn’t scored as many runs that he needed to over the last little while in one-day cricket to probably justify taking up a top-four spot. That’s just the reality at the end of the day,” he further added.

“It’s important we start to really nut down the balance of the side and get that right moving forward,” Finch said when asked if Maxwell’s position in the side was in danger.

“We’re all under pressure when we lose. No doubt about that. Between the batting line-up not having got it right for a little now while there’s going to be some questions asked whether it’s of Maxi, whether it’s (Chris) Lynn, (Travis) Head, myself, or ‘Stoinis’. There’s going to be questions asked of all of us.”

The all-rounder has to perform in the solitary T20 international against South Africa, that will be played on Saturday in order to save himself from getting sidelined for Australia’s international assignments in the near future.

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~Written by Akshay Verma

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