Glenn Maxwell doubtful for the fifth ODI
Apr 17, 2016 at 4:35 PM
In-form batsman Glenn Maxwell is doubtful for the fifth and last ODI against India at Sydney on Saturday. He is currently suffering from a knee injury.
Maxwell got this blow during the 4th ODI between Australia and India at Canberra on Wednesday. The ball hit Maxwell on an unprotected area of the right knee when he bent his right leg for attempting to play a shot on the leg side. He was on 13 runs when he got the injury and Ishant Sharma was bowling at that moment. He was feeling discomfort at that time; though he carried on with his innings. He scored 41 runs from 20 balls in that innings.
He also fielded at the beginning of the India’s chase. He also bowled an over where he gave away 10 runs to the Indian batsmen. But then he was replaced by substitute fielder Shaun Marsh for the rest of the match.
According to cricket.com.au, “The wound had caused some swelling and discomfort on Maxwell’s knee. His participation in the fifth and final match of the ODI series was going to be decided on only after thorough examinations.”
Glenn Maxwell is in great form in the ongoing series against India. His blasting knock of 41 runs on 20 balls in the 4th ODI helped Australia to put a mammoth total of 348 runs on the scoreboard which they successfully defended at the end. He also got a man-of-the-match award in the 3rd ODI for playing a match winning knock of 96 runs while chasing.
Currently, several Australian cricketers are suffering the injury problems. Maxwell joins the list of Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins and James Pattinson.
On the other hand, his fellow national team-mate and opener, David Warner said that he believed Maxwell can be a long-form specialist. Warner commented, “Like all of us we like to hit a boundary in our first ten balls to get us off and going, but it’s exciting to see what he did the other day … There’s a few critics out there and we’ve all had them before, labeling him a Twenty20 specialist. I believe he can be a long-form specialist too.”