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Glenn Maxwell is headed for a breakout display at the World Twenty20 ... or a sobering brush with reality at the same tournament.
Having turned heads with a handful of spiky performances in his first
appearances for Australia during their recent ODI and T20 series in the
UAE, Maxwell has arrived in Sri Lanka flushed with confidence ahead of
his team's opening match against Ireland on Wednesday.
He has spoken with plenty of brio about the sorts of displays he is
capable of producing over the next three weeks, which in his mind will
be match-turning efforts of the kind produced by the world's very best.
They are bold words from a 23-year-old with six international matches to
his credit, and Maxwell will now need to back them up with plenty of
action.
"I'm very confident I can perform now at this level. Hopefully I can be
that x-factor that Australia needs to win this tournament," Maxwell said
in Colombo. "I feel like I can become that x-factor in all three facets
of the game and hopefully be that flair that Australia really wants to
see.
"That could mean a run out, a brilliant catch, a breakthrough wicket
with the ball or big hitting. I'm really embracing that 'x-factor' tag. I
don't really have too many doubts, I don't think I'm going to try to
back down any time soon either."
Among a series of useful cameos in the UAE, Maxwell said he gained most
from an unbeaten half century to guide Australia home in the third ODI
in Sharjah. That innings clinched the series for Michael Clarke's team,
and gave Maxwell the belief that he could follow it up with even greater
things at the World T20.
"When I got the boys over the line at the end, that gave me the
confidence to do anything in the squad," he said. "I feel like I can
give Australia more runs at the top of the order rather than the bottom.
Hopefully a hundred is not too far away and it comes in this
tournament."
Running his eye over other teams in the tournament, Maxwell said he
expected England to shrug off the loss of Kevin Pietersen, the player of
the tournament when Paul Collingwood led the team to victory over
Australia in the final of the 2010 edition.
"England has been a bit of a powerhouse. KP is one of the world's best
players but they've been able to cover for him pretty well," Maxwell
said. "I don't think they're going to miss him too much."
"Their middle order is quite strong. Eoin Morgan gives them amazing
versatility, he's a great finisher and a really tough player to get out.
Their bowling attack is excellent. They've got a great bowling coach in
David Saker who has drilled them really well."
Maxwell's words carry as much conviction as some of his strokes have
done so far. Australia will hope for more of the same from Wednesday.
Daniel Brettig is an assistant editor at ESPNcricinfo. He tweets here
Feeds: Daniel Brettig
© ESPN EMEA Ltd.
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