He played an innings that will remain as unforgettable as a Beatles song, gritty and glittering, battling through pain to an incredible triumph.
On Tuesday, Glenn Maxwell scripted a tale laced with resilience, audacity and indomitable cricketing prowess to steer Australia to a miraculous three-wicket win over Afghanistan in the World Cup.
The Australian all-rounder smashed 201 not out in a 292-run chase at the Wankade Stadium in Mumbai, and it comes as no surprise that many cricketers are already calling the innings the greatest of all time.
And it might not be far-fetched: Australia may have won five World Cup titles, but Maxwell’s knock ensured the victory against Afghanistan was one of their sweetest – and certainly among the most memorable – in the tournament’s history.
The biggest case for Maxwell’s extraordinary innings to be considered the “greatest” is that it unfolded in the World Cup, an event that defines careers and legacies.
Australia, on paper, were the overwhelming favourites against Afghanistan. They were reeling at 49-4 when Maxwell arrived at the crease. They then slumped to 91-7.
But the stage was set for Maxwell, who somehow managed to seize the moment despite being dropped twice on 24 and 33. His journey to the historic double century was fraught with adversity, both external and internal.
Drops, reviews, cramps and physical agony punctuated Maxwell’s innings. His ability to run was compromised as the innings grew. By the time the requirement was down to 75 runs, he could barely move his feet to play a shot.
Yet, the physical distress became a backdrop to his extraordinary display, as Maxwell’s exceptional hand-eye coordination and near-perfect ball-striking abilities made up for the other limitations.
His record-shattering 201 not out marked the first instance in the history of ODIs where an individual achieved a double century while chasing. What further distinguishes his feat is that he accomplished this remarkable milestone as a non-opening batter.
Over the past few decades, Kapil Dev’s 175 off just 138 balls gainst Zimbabwe, West Indies great Vivian Richards’ 189 off 170 balls, Sachin Tendulkar’s 143 versus Australia, Herschelle Gibbs’ 175 in a record 435-run chase and Rohit Sharma’s world record 264 have made the world stand and applaud.
On Tuesday, from Pakistan legend Wasim Akram to former English captain Michael Vaughan and Australian captain Pat Cummins – who had the best seat in the house at the non-striker’s end for a large part of Maxwell’s knock – all labelled the 201 not out as the “greatest”.
And when big names in world cricket make such a claim, one has to take notice.
Indo-Asian News Service
