Aussies call in Maxwell cavalry

Times Media

TELFORD VICE, Cape Town

GLENN Maxwell has the rawboned look of a cavalry officer, which is what Australia will need him to be if they are to stave off a series defeat in the second T20 against SA in Melbourne on Friday.

Stung by SA’s comprehensive 22-run win in the first match of the series in Adelaide on Wednesday, the Aussies called in the cavalry on Thursday by adding Maxwell to their squad.

The allrounder is the only member of the squad who have limped home after being thumped 2-0 by Pakistan in their test series in the United Arab Emirates to be called up for the T20s.

Maxwell led the Indian Premier League (IPL) in six-hitting this year, smashing 36 for Kings XI Punjab. He was also the tournament’s third-highest runscorer and he had the second-best strike rate.

But the prospect of dealing with him did not daunt Kyle Abbott, who was asked what difference players like David Warner - who was also in the test squad - and Maxwell would have made to Australia’s effort in Adelaide.

“They’re two excellent players, but guys like (Aaron) Finch, (Shane) Watson, (Cameron) White you can put in the same bracket as Warner and Maxwell,” Abbott said. “It’s just a name at the end of the day.”

Finch, Watson and White were among the Aussies’ more successful batsmen in Adelaide, but they could score only 85 runs between them. By contrast, Abbott’s classy 3/21 had at least as much to do with SA’s win as Rilee Rossouw’s 78.

Besides, Abbott did not say, while Maxwell was a star in the IPL, he has been mediocre at international level.

Maxwell is ranked 58th among international T20 batsmen and 44th among bowlers, and in his two innings in the format against SA he has scored one and 17.

It will take more than that on Friday to derail a SA side who are beginning to understand how to deal with pressure. Abbott did just that on Wednesday when he sealed an already valuable performance by taking a wicket and conceding just nine runs - none of them boundaries - in the last over of Australia’s innings.

“People pay money to see bowlers get hit out the ground these days, unfortunately; everything seems to be going that way,” Abbott said.

“I want to take that on. I know I’m on a hiding to nothing, but when it pays off it feels really good. It’s an attitude adjustment - wanting those last couple of overs and enjoying them.”

SA approached every aspect of Wednesday’s match in much the same way and the Aussies never challenged their superiority in any department. In fact, the result flattered the home side.

But the series see-saw will creak back to level if Australia find a way to win on Friday. On Wednesday’s form, that seems unlikely. However, SA will know better than to focus on the past at the expense of the present.

They will also know that if anyone can find their way home from the outback, Australians can.