Six of Maxwell’s last seven innings have been at a strike rate of 150 or higher. His one run from five balls in the World Cup semi-final against South Africa was the only innings where he scored at less than a run a ball.
Maxwell had the highest strike rate of any batsman at the World Cup,with five or more innings to their name. Travis Head,named player of the match in the final,was the only other Australian on that list with 127 runs for every 100 balls he faced across the tournament.
Maxwell’s double hundred against Afghanistan accounted for 68.6 per cent of Australia’s runs that evening. However,it was just short of Sir Vivian Richards’s record,which saw the West Indian make 69.48 per cent of his side’s runs in an ODI against England in 1984. Richards made 189 not out that day.
“You couldn’t have even imagined someone winning a match from where they[Australia] were at that particular time,” Richards said at a recent ICC event. “I was on a golf course … and someone came and told me the Aussies were seven down … and I told myself:‘well played Afghanistan’. When I was told Australia went on to win the match,I couldn’t believe it. It was a phenomenal knock.”
In the three matches where Maxwell made hundreds,he supplied 411 of Australia’s 917 runs (44.8 per cent).
Opposition attacks looked bereft of answers when Maxwell was at the crease. His ability to play left-handed shots - and adjust his stance so quickly - made it extremely difficult for bowlers.
Maxwell’s career strike rates in the 50-over and 20-over formats have spiked slightly after his latest performances. His ODI strike rate of 126.91 has been relatively consistent over the past nine years.
The last time it got above 130 was in 2014.
Maxwell’s latest 47-ball century against India was his fastest in T20 international cricket. It bettered his hundred against Sri Lanka in 2016 (49 balls) and against India in 2019 (50 balls).
He now occupies three of the top six spots when it comes to the fastest centuries in international cricket by an Australian. Alyssa Healy still holds the record (46 balls) for her knock against Sri Lanka in 2019 at North Sydney Oval.
Few cricketers in the world are as entertaining to watch.
Loading
There are no signs of Maxwell fading and one could argue he is playing the best cricket of his career.
Maxwell will be a hugely influential figure next year when Australia head to the USA and Caribbean for the 2024 T20 World Cup.
Sports news,results and expert commentary.Sign up for our Sport newsletter.