Glenn Maxwell is wasted at number seven, reckons Allan Border

Former Australia skipper Allan Border reckons hard-hitting all-rounder Glenn Maxwell is being wasted in the lower-middle order and needs to be promoted higher. The right-handed batsman was confined to the dressing room in Sydney when Australia was struggling to score quick runs in the first ODI against India. Maxwell eventually batted at No.7  despite the fact that the hosts were struggling to increase their run rate in the crucial final 10 overs.

The stage was perfectly set for Maxwell to launch his usual assault when Shaun Marsh was dismissed in the 38th over with the scoreboard reading 186 for 4. However, the Australian team-management sprung a big surprise by sending Marcus Stoinis to partner Peter Handscomb. Maxwell, on the other hand, came to bat in the 48th over at 7 and faced just five balls. He scored 11 runs in five deliveries with a boundary to his name.

The decision to demote Maxwell in the batting order raised quite a few eyebrows and Border also could not help but criticise the move. “It feels to me that he’s slightly wasted in that position,” he told Fox Sports.

“Hopefully going forward he can be used as not a pinch-hitter but, depending on the circumstances of the game, you could throw him in at No.3 if you had a good start for example. That would let him play with a bit of freedom,” Border added.

Australia off to winning start:

The decision to send Maxwell that low, meanwhile, did not cost Australia big as they beat red-hot India by 34 runs to take a lead in the three-match series. Batting first, the hosts piled up a competitive 288 for 5 in the 50 overs. Handscomb top scored with 71 while Usman Khawaja and Marsh scored fifties as well.

India, in reply, were restricted to 254 for 9. The tourists were off to horrendous start and were reeling at 4 for 3. Rohit Sharma and MS Dhoni then steadied the ship with a 137-run stand before the latter departed after scoring 51. Rohit went on to score a fine ton but found little support from the other end. The opening batsman was eventually dismissed for 133 and with that, it was curtains on India’s chances.

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