ICC World Cup 2023: ‘Just a one-man show’

Glenn Maxwell (right) and Pat Cummins celebrate their win over Afghanistan at Wankhede. PIC/Bipin Patel

Australia captain Pat Cummins lavished praise on all-rounder Glenn Maxwell for his outstanding, unbeaten knock of 201, which helped Australia see off Afghanistan by three wickets at the Wankhede Stadium on Tuesday night. Maxwell took just 128 balls to reach his score and smashed 21 fours as well as 10 sixes to single handedly register an unbelievable win.

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Pat Cummins

Cummins (12 not out off 68 balls), who gave Maxwell much-needed company from the non-striker's end in their match-winning eighth wicket stand of 202 runs off 170 balls, admitted that it was possible only because of Maxwell's miracle and regarded his knock as the greatest ODI innings ever. "Yeah, it's just a one-man show. It's just looks so easy. I'm up the other end and I don't see any gaps in the field. I don't see where I'm going to score a boundary and it seems like every time, he [Maxwell] sees that, he just runs away for four.

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‘Maxwell's a freak'

"Yeah, he [Maxwell] still can't move and still manages to hit a six to third man with the reverse - he's a freak, he hits into different areas, again, he makes it look so easy. And when you're up against someone like that, as a bowler, you just don't have many options," Cummins said during the post-match press conference. While chasing Afghanistan's total of 291-5, Australia secured a win with 19 balls to spare. Cummins explained the quality of Maxwell's knock. "I think that's the greatest ODI innings. From what I've seen, it's probably the greatest ODI innings ever. Yeah, we were just chatting about it, all the players, and we've decided it's one of those days where you just go, ‘I was there in the stadium the day Glenn Maxwell chased down that total by himself.' "

When asked about the conversations he had with Maxwell in the 19th over when they had lost seven wickets for just 91, Cummins admitted that they were thinking about the Afghan spinners as a big challenge. "Initially, when I walked out there, we thought the mystery spinners [Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Noor Ahmad] were the biggest trouble. The ball was still spinning a little bit and they were bowling really well. For me, it was just basically hanging in there. Maxi was still scoring quite freely. We knew it's the kind of wicket that gets easier.

A simple plan

"We didn't really feel like run-rate was ever going to be an issue with Maxi still at the crease. So, for me, it was just about survival and just hope we get a look at some of the other bowlers that maybe the wicket doesn't suit as much. So, it was a pretty simple plan; didn't look too far ahead," Cummins said. When Maxwell took a single off Noor and reached 147 in the 41st over, he was in terrible pain because of his hamstring. Team physio [Nick Jones] treated him and No. 10 batsman Adam Zampa was ready to replace Maxwell.

Cummins revealed how the physio played an important role at that stage and convinced Maxwell to hang in the middle instead of thinking to be back in the dressing room: "I thought he [Maxwell] was going off. So, I kind of signaled to Zampa to get down here because he literally couldn't move. Then, I think the physio was out there and he convinced Maxi that if he came off, he might be worse off. So, try and hang out there, stand up, and that's probably your best bet. Because once you go off, it's that much cramp but there's no guarantee you're going to get back out there," Cummins said. The rest is history.