In-Trouble Glenn Maxwell Needs a Mentor, Suggests Dean Jones
Dec 5, 2016 at 12:10 PM
Not feeling upright for Glenn Maxwell’s behavior, former Australian batsman Dean Jones has suggested the all-rounder needs a mentor to guide him before he falls into more trouble, with his batting technique first and surely with his words later.
In a recent interview, Maxwell criticized Mathew Wade of promoting himself up the order ahead of him in the Victorian Bushrangers’ Sheffield Shield game, stating the wicket-keeper should ideally bat at number seven position.
For speaking up his thoughts, the right-handed batsman was first penalized and later was publicly slammed by team skipper Steven Smith and coach Darren Lehmann. However, in the first ODI of the Chappell-Hadlee series against New Zealand on Sunday, the all-rounder was dropped.
“I think he really needs a mentor. I don’t want my sportsmen to come out of cookie moulds. I want them to have a personality and be able to say what they want, but I don’t think that was the right forum for him to do it. He’s got enough charisma in the way he plays. At the top of his game, he’s in our team, first pick, and I think he’s going to India.
“But the fact remains that I think he needs a mentor, whether that be Chris Rogers, or Michael Hussey or Mark Taylor or someone like that, who he could speak to and vent. I often did with Stacky or my dad, get it off your chest and then say ‘okay, this is what we need to do’.
Pressing more on Maxwell’s carefree attitude towards the game, Jones said he would love to see him having a free talk with anyone he feels comfortable with, or someone he has trust in. The former batsman also mentioned Maxwell as Ravichandran Ashwin nemesis, looking at the record both have against each other.
“I don’t think you can be successful in international cricket without having someone you can speak honestly and candidly to. He’s a bit of a repeat offender and that’s hurting people. Now, is he worth working for? Yep, I think he is, he’s got a lot to offer. [R] Ashwin hates bowling to him, that’s a fact… but he needs to get some runs.”
Surprised with his absence from the playing eleven in Sunday’s game against New Zealand, Dean said he would have had him in the squad knowing his ability to perform on the big stage. He further added the Australian batting order did not please him either, questioning Mitchell Marsh’s batting position ahead of Travis Head, who was demoted down the order.
I can’t for the life of me work out how Mitchell Marsh is batting at No. 5, are you telling me Travis Head’s not as good a batsman as [Marsh]? What Travis Head did was terrific, but he still lacks a bit of polish.
Australia will take on New Zealand in second ODI of the three-match series on Tuesday at Canberra.