Cricket

Australia's success in the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy hinges on their ability to neutralize the formidable Indian spin duo of Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja, according to all-rounder Glenn Maxwell. India has emerged victorious in their last two tours of Australia, becoming the only Asian nation to conquer the Aussies in a Test series on their home turf.Maxwell, who has not featured in Australia's Test team since 2017, believes that Ashwin and Jadeja have consistently played a pivotal role in India's triumphs. "Over a long period of time, those two have always been the ones we've faced consistently, and the battles we've had with them have often dictated the outcome of the game," Maxwell said.The Ashwin-Jadeja combination has amassed an astonishing 821 wickets in 330 innings, including 50 five-wicket hauls. Maxwell emphasized that Australia must nullify their impact to improve their chances of success. "If we play well against those two, we'll generally find ourselves in a better position compared to when they've had a field day and run through us," he said.Maxwell also lauded the development of Jasprit Bumrah, who has emerged as a world-class bowler across all formats. "To see him evolve from a young, untapped talent to what he is now—the probably best bowler across all three formats—is a pretty amazing story," Maxwell remarked.

Australia's success in the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy hinges on their ability to neutralize India's formidable spin duo of Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja, according to all-rounder Glenn Maxwell.India has won the last two Test series in Australia, becoming the only Asian nation to achieve this feat. Maxwell believes that Ashwin and Jadeja have played a pivotal role in India's dominance, often dictating the outcome of matches."Over a long period of time, having played against guys like Ashwin and Jadeja, those two seem to have always been the ones we've faced consistently, and the battles we've had with them have often dictated the outcome of the game," Maxwell said.Maxwell, who no longer plays Test cricket for Australia, emphasized the importance of nullifying the Indian spinners. The Ashwin-Jadeja combination has taken a staggering 821 wickets in 330 innings, including 50 five-wicket hauls."If we play well against those two (Ashwin, Jadeja), we'll generally find ourselves in a better position compared to when they've had a field day and run through us," Maxwell added.Maxwell also praised India's pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah for his remarkable transformation into an all-format bowler. He hailed Bumrah as the best in the business at the moment."And probably, more recently, Jasprit Bumrah. I was there in his first year of the IPL in 2013 at Mumbai and pretty much faced him every day in the nets," Maxwell said. "To see him evolve from a young, untapped talent to what he is now—the probably best bowler across all three formats—is a pretty amazing story."

Victoria captain Will Sutherland has confirmed that star all-rounder Glenn Maxwell will be available for a limited number of Sheffield Shield matches early in the upcoming season. Maxwell, who turns 36 in October, is currently in England with Australia's ODI team and has not played a Shield match for Victoria since February 2023.Maxwell's availability is a boost for Victoria, who are keen to have him play some red-ball cricket before Australia's Test tour to Sri Lanka in January and February next year. Maxwell was part of the Sri Lanka tour in 2022 and nearly played the first Test in Galle, with his ability as a spin-bowling allrounder seen as an asset in spinning conditions.However, Maxwell's availability will be limited due to his commitments to Australia's ODI and T20I series against Pakistan in November. He will also be unavailable for the first Shield game of the summer against Tasmania as he slowly builds up off a knee issue.Victoria are also unlikely to have Australia fast bowler Scott Boland available for the first Shield game, but he is set to be unleashed in the game against NSW at the MCG. Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, and Steven Smith are all a chance to play for the Blues in that match.Sutherland himself will be on bowling restrictions during the start of the Shield season coming off a stress fracture in his back. He bowled six overs and made 36 not out in Victoria's opening One-Day Cup win over Tasmania on Monday in Melbourne and will bowl again in Friday's One-Day Cup game against Queensland.One man who won't be part of Victoria's Shield team at the start of the season is Will Pucovski. The one-Test opener has not been training with the group and is set to finish his playing career after a medical panel advised he not continue due to the repeated concussions that he has suffered.

Australian all-rounder Glenn Maxwell's recovery from a devastating leg injury in 2022 continues to pose challenges, affecting his ability to play cricket without discomfort. Maxwell sustained a fractured fibula, chipped tibia, and torn ankle ligaments during a celebration, forcing him to miss the Border-Gavaskar Trophy tour of India.Despite making the ODI World Cup squad, Maxwell's leg injury remains a concern, especially in light of Australia's upcoming tour of Sri Lanka. "It's still my leg. It's what is giving me the most grief since breaking it, so it's still a work in progress," Maxwell said.Maxwell's recovery requires extensive rehabilitation and gym work to strengthen his body and prevent setbacks. He has only played two first-class matches since 2019 and hasn't featured in a Test match since 2017.However, Maxwell has received assurances from selectors that an "outside the box" lineup will be considered for the Sri Lanka series. "They've been pretty open to selecting outside the box for players who do well in those conditions," he said.Maxwell acknowledges that Shield form may not be a significant factor in player selection for the Sri Lanka tour. "It's just completely different conditions, you've got to have a really solid game plan against spin and a really good idea of how you're going to tackle them in those conditions," he explained.Whether Maxwell's body will be ready for the Sri Lanka tour remains uncertain. "It would be great if I could get my body into a position where I can play over (in Sri Lanka). But as far as Shield cricket, I'm not sure how much they'll take that into consideration," he said.Maxwell's recovery journey highlights the challenges faced by athletes returning from serious injuries. His determination to overcome these obstacles and return to the highest level of cricket is a testament to his resilience and dedication to the sport.

Washington Freedom emerged victorious in the Major League Cricket (MLC) 2024 championship, crushing the San Francisco Unicorns by a resounding 96 runs. Led by the brilliance of Steven Smith and Glenn Maxwell, Freedom dominated the match from start to finish.Smith, who was surprisingly omitted from Australia's T20 World Cup squad, showcased his exceptional batting prowess. Despite a slow start, he accelerated to a blistering 88 off 52 deliveries, including six towering sixes. His partnership with Maxwell, who contributed a valuable 40, propelled Freedom to a formidable total of 207 for 5.The Unicorns' chase crumbled under the pressure of Freedom's imposing target. Marco Jansen's incisive bowling proved too much for the Unicorns' openers, claiming both wickets within the powerplay. The rest of the batting lineup failed to mount a significant challenge, with Sherfane Rutherford's dismissal, superbly caught by Ian Holland, proving a pivotal moment.Freedom's triumph marked a fitting end to a dominant season. They secured five wins in the group stage and progressed directly to the final after defeating the Unicorns in the Qualifier. Their victory cemented their status as the team of the season, with Ricky Ponting, their coach, securing a title just weeks after leaving his role with Delhi Capitals.Smith's performance in the MLC 2024 has raised questions about his international future. Despite his omission from the T20 World Cup squad, he has proven his worth as a world-class batsman. His success in the US has demonstrated that he remains a force to be reckoned with.

Washington Freedom emerged victorious in the Qualifier of the 2024 Major League Cricket, securing their spot in the final. The team's commanding seven-wicket triumph over the San Francisco Unicorns was orchestrated by a stellar bowling performance led by Rachin Ravindra and an explosive batting display by Travis Head and Glenn Maxwell.Ravindra's exceptional spell of 4/11 restricted the Unicorns to a modest total of 145. Marco Jansen and Saurabh Netravalkar also contributed with crucial early breakthroughs. Despite a valiant 57 from Hassan Khan and a quick 26 from Corey Anderson, the Unicorns were bowled out in 19 overs.Washington's chase was a swift and emphatic affair, thanks to the unbeaten 85-run partnership between Head and Maxwell. Head remained unbeaten on 77 off 44 balls, hitting three sixes and 10 fours, while Maxwell provided ample support with a blistering 54 not out off 23 balls, including five sixes and four fours. The duo took Washington home with 27 balls to spare and seven wickets in hand.Travis Head was named Player of the Match for his outstanding performance. Reflecting on his innings, he said, "Feels nice, was stuck in the 50s for a bit so happy to get a match-winning score today. I don't try to play deep too much; my job is just to get a fast start. A few wickets fell today, so I just tried to adjust. It has been a good wicket, and there was a bit of swing today, but when the ball swings, it gives you a chance to score. Ricky Ponting and Smith's support has been great; they have left me alone and let me do my thing."Washington captain Steve Smith praised his team's performance, noting the excellent chemistry and execution. "Good fun, we have a good bunch of guys who have gelled together quickly. Been a good campaign, helps when you're winning along the way. Credit to us, we played really well. Nice to get to the big dance. We wanted to take wickets with the new ball, and the bowlers did well to keep them to 145, which was a bit under par. Travis and Maxi then played unbelievably well."San Francisco will now face the Texas Super Kings in the Challenger match on Saturday for another chance to reach the final and set up a rematch with Washington Freedom in the summit clash.

Afghanistan vs Australia: Maxwell's Return and the Battle of the SpinnersThe highly anticipated clash between Afghanistan and Australia in Kingstown promises to be a captivating encounter, with all eyes on Glenn Maxwell's return to form. In their previous encounter, Maxwell's heroics propelled Australia to victory, and he will be eager to make a similar impact against Afghanistan's formidable spin attack.Afghanistan's middle order has struggled in this tournament, striking at a rate of less than 100, while Australia's middle order has been in impressive form, striking at 168.09. Adam Zampa and Ashton Agar could pose a significant threat to Afghanistan's batters on the spin-friendly Kingstown pitch.Naveen-ul-Haq will be Afghanistan's key weapon against Australia's power-hitters, while Tim David, Marcus Stoinis, and Maxwell will look to exploit Afghanistan's weaknesses. David has a strong head-to-head record against both Naveen and Rashid Khan.Australia may consider bringing back Agar to bolster their spin attack, while Afghanistan is likely to retain Hazratullah Zazai despite his recent struggles.The pitch in Kingstown has favored spinners, with 22 wickets taken at an economy rate of 5.64 in six innings. Rashid Khan and Zampa, two of the world's best T20 wristspinners, will be the key players to watch.

Ahead of Australia's Super Eights clash against Bangladesh in the 2024 T20 World Cup, all-rounder Glenn Maxwell has revealed the chaos that ensued in the England dressing room as their qualification hung in the balance.England's fate rested on Australia's victory over Scotland, and as the match reached its climax, panic set in among the English players. Maxwell disclosed that some players were frantically booking and canceling flights as the outcome remained uncertain."There was almost this interesting part where they dropped Tim David's catch when there were three runs required off three balls," Maxwell said. "When it gets down to the last two-three balls, who knows what is going to happen? Luckily enough, we got over the line and luckily enough, they got through. But I heard it was absolutely chaos."Maxwell also received messages from England players before the game, expressing their anxiety. "Yeah, just a couple of texts here and there (from England players)," he said. "It was actually quite funny. There was a lot of chat out in the ground like 'Are we doing this? Are we seriously going to let England back in?' It was a pretty interesting game."Prior to the match, Australian pacer Josh Hazlewood had stated that it would be in everyone's best interests if England were eliminated early. "In this tournament, you potentially come up against England at some stage again and...they are probably one of the top few teams on their day and we have had some real struggles against them in T20 cricket, so if we can get them out of the tournament that's in our best interest as well as probably everyone else," Hazlewood had said.Australia's victory over Scotland secured England's qualification for the Super Eights on the basis of net run rate. The defending champions will begin their Super Eights campaign against West Indies on Thursday.

Mitchell Marsh has declared himself fit to bowl in the Super Eight stage of the T20 World Cup 2024, providing Australia with an additional option ahead of their clash with Bangladesh in Antigua. The all-rounder has been sidelined with a hamstring injury since leaving the IPL, but has recovered sufficiently to be available for selection.Marsh's return to bowling will bolster Australia's bowling attack, which has been led by Marcus Stoinis in his absence. The team has also utilized 12 overs of spin against Scotland, indicating a potential shift in strategy for the Super Eight."I'll be available to bowl," Marsh said. "With the line-up that we've got, I don't really necessarily see a need for me to bowl, but I think it's really important in this format to have options and we're blessed with plenty of those."While Marsh's bowling role remains uncertain, he is confident in his ability to contribute with the bat. Despite a slow start to the World Cup, Marsh and Glenn Maxwell believe they are close to making a significant impact."For me and Mitch, we got a lot of confidence out of that England game for the role we played," Maxwell said. "Even though it's a small sample size we still feel like we played out role; we set the innings up for the lower order to then go nuts."Maxwell acknowledged his own struggles with form, but expressed optimism about his chances of regaining his rhythm. "I've been hitting the ball pretty well, but...it's just been really hard to, I suppose, get that rhythm and momentum," he said.Australia will face Bangladesh in Antigua on October 29th, with the Super Eight stage of the tournament set to begin on November 1st. The team will be hoping to secure a place in the semi-finals and continue their quest for a second T20 World Cup title.