Feels like Maxwell is better suited to down the order with a few overs to go to come and smash it. Nice innovation with Cutting up the order, the Heat could learn a thing or two from that.
Maxwell is a great finisher. I wouldn't be batting him any higher than 6.
There's a big difference in the value of a quickfire 20 between the number 3 and the number 6
I like Maxwell coming in earlier actually, especially in that 6-12 over range because it makes Australia attack throughout the innings. It also takes the immediate scoring pressure off the opener who is left. He can sit for a couple of overs while Maxwell goes hard, whereas if Hodge had come in for example, he would want to take a few balls to play himself in, while the opener wouldn't want to do anything stupid straight after a wicket. In that circumstance, England would fancy sneaking a couple of cheap overs, but with Maxwell coming in, England can't rest.
Sure we can't rely on many runs from Maxwell at
#3 because he's dodgy, but that's not really the point. You want to attack as much as possible in T20 with your long batting lineup. Leaving resources in the shed is a sin, so you might as well burn your volatile players early. And if Maxwell gets going he'll score quickly and make bowlers nervous because of his shot range.
Well we not taking about a 39 year old on a walking stick here
- Hodge is the leading run scorer in T20 cricket worldwide.
Either way AUS have great T20 options for the W-Cup, so whether the selectors eventually take Hodge due to his experience or Lynn for his young talent - performance wise it won't make a big difference i would think.
Thus it will all come down to which side of the fence the selectors are leaning towards.
Yeah he's doing alright for a 39 year old, you are right
I just thought it was real odd that if they had Hodge in mind, why not pick him when the squad was originally named on Jan 20? His 61 vs the Scorchers a few days later got him as the replacement for Henriques, I can buy that...but then how does he parlay that 61 into padding up ahead of Lynn at the MCG and ultimately forcing him out at the SCG? When your replacement players start forcing out the guys you originally named - especially a guy who did well on debut, I'm not sure it's a good thing.
I'm with you though - I don't think it makes a huge difference to the team. Hodge offers a different package to Lynn, but I could see both being useful in Bangladesh. Hodge has more experience over there, but Lynn would be a dynamic player too if they pick him.
What an innings by George Bailey! He has had amazing last year or so that has completely changed his position in the team. From "why him" to "why not him" in all the 3 formats. As much brilliant the past few months have been for him, his ability to hit the ball in the V is. Very very impressed the way he batted in the last T20I, particularly impressed with his ability to find the gap at the cow corner.
I can hang my head in shame and say that I have doubted George Bailey at every turn. He's a white ball gun right now, even if he can't play red ball stuff. Full credit to the selectors who saw something in him a couple of years ago and make him T20 captain. Thought that was an awful call at the time, but it's proven correct.
