Glenn Maxwell‘s mobility was severely compromised during his incredible innings. He struggled to move his feet, especially the front foot, due to the pain and fragility in his back leg. Despite these physical limitations and the risk of cramps, Maxwell, Australia’s resilient hero, managed to score an unbeaten 201 runs while chasing Afghanistan’s target of 292, achieving one of the most remarkable performances by a batsman in cricket history. How did he do it?
In many ways, Maxwell approaches batting with the enthusiasm and confidence of a child. While some of his shots are premeditated, he displays a childlike belief in his ability to execute unconventional strokes and place the ball in unconventional areas of the field. Maxwell‘s batting style is reminiscent of someone who has grown up playing video games and is, in a way, a true representative of this modern generation. On that memorable Tuesday night in Mumbai, he used a variety of skills borrowed from the gaming world to distill batting to its core elements: balance, keen eyesight, and lightning-fast hands. Despite struggling to maintain his balance against Afghanistan, his eyes and arms proved to be the decisive factors.
The balance aspect of his technique involves several components: a flexible knee bend that allows him to spring off the balls of his feet, a smooth postural sway that facilitates weight transfer, and a hip turn that generates bat speed through the contact zone. Maxwell executed all of these with a youthful enthusiasm. On that evening, he harnessed an adrenaline rush and an unwavering determination to produce a performance that left everyone in awe.
Soon after Maxwell‘s audacious ODI innings, three former Pakistani players were tasked with the challenging assignment of deciphering how Maxwell managed to hit massive sixes despite battling severe cramps and having limited lower-body movement. With restricted foot movement, how did he rely solely on his hands?
Shoaib Malik, Misbah-ul-Haq, and Wasim Akram provided insights, making it seem like they were casually discussing the game at a sports studio. They also discussed the role of playing multiple sports in enhancing hand-eye coordination, citing examples like AB de Villiers (hockey, tennis), Maxwell (scratch golfer, tennis), and their own experiences (hockey for both Malik and Misbah) during their formative years.
Malik demonstrated a key point, emphasizing that power hitting doesn’t depend on footwork but rather on arm extension and a strong base. He mimicked Maxwell‘s stance, explaining how Maxwell pre-positioned himself in a slightly crouched base position even before the bowler delivered the ball. This placement allowed equal weight distribution on both feet, enabling free and smooth arm movement through the line of the ball.
Often, Hardik Pandya adopts a similar approach when driving through the line by turning his back leg from the hip. However, what Maxwell achieved in this innings was remarkable, considering he was dealing with a moving leather cricket ball without the luxury of foot movement.
A story from the past involving Majid Khan highlighted the essence of Maxwell‘s incredible performance. Majid Khan once demonstrated that batting primarily relies on hands and eyes, rather than footwork, during a nets session. In a challenging environment, Majid Khan displayed extraordinary control and strokeplay without any discernible foot movement, proving that genius defies conventional rules.
Malik also pointed out that Afghanistan’s spinners tend to bowl at a lower trajectory, which makes it easier for batsmen to use their hands and play aggressively. This lower trajectory allowed Maxwell to unleash his hand-eye coordination and play attacking shots.
Wasim Akram suggested that seamers could have bowled from a wider angle to force Maxwell to use his legs more. However, Misbah cautioned that Maxwell could adapt to such tactics by using reverse laps and switch hits, making it challenging for bowlers.
Despite the theories and tactics discussed, the three experienced cricketers unanimously agreed that they had never witnessed such an innings in their lifetime. Maxwell‘s performance against Afghanistan was nothing short of remarkable, and it showcased a style of batting that is best understood by a generation raised on gaming platforms.
Misbah-ul-Haq provided a fitting summary of Maxwell‘s extraordinary innings: ‘When he felt like it… six (mimicking a lap shot), six (reverse lap shot). Unbelievable.
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