Exclusive interview with Delhi Daredevils' Glenn Maxwell
Making his debut last night for the Delhi Daredevils was one of the fresh talents bagged by the Daredevils at this year’s auction – Australian all-rounder Glenn Maxwell. Maxwell, who plays for the Victorian Bushrangers, holds the Australian record for the fastest 50 in Australian inter-State one-day cricket. In his first outing for Delhi, Maxwell didn’t have much to do, scoring an unbeaten 3 runs as his team tamed one of the pre-tournament favorites, Kolkata Knight Riders. In an exclusive interview with Sportskeeda, Maxwell talks about how he got here and what he’s looking forward to this IPL.
1. First and foremost, how has your stay been so far?
So far, my stay in India has been very enjoyable. The people have been wonderful. They all have made it really easy for me to settle in.
2. What had you been looking forward to before coming down for the IPL?
I was primarily looking forward to working with players from different countries. I am also eager to learn how to play in different conditions here.
3. How has it been getting around knowing the Delhi Daredevils team?
It’s been great getting to know all the other players and learning about their different backgrounds. It has been a completely different and refreshing experience.
4. How does it feel to hold the Australian record for the fastest one-day 50 that you scored against Tasmania? Take us through that game.
It’s an amazing feeling to hold that record, especially because the record was previously held by such a well-respected cricketer as David Hookes. When I came out to bat in that game, we needed about 100 off 9 overs and after facing a few dots at the start, I got into a really good rhythm and just tried to keep up with the run rate. I was lucky enough to have some really good support from Peter Siddle at the other end, who hit some boundaries at crucial times. The best thing about that innings was that it helped us get the win that we needed to host the final which we eventually won. So, it all worked out perfectly.
5. Do you consider yourself more of a shorter format cricketer or is it your dream to earn the Baggy Green someday soon?
I think at the moment I have a game that is suited to all the formats. I take the longer version of the game extremely seriously and I want to make my mark in that format in due course. The Baggy Green is a massive dream of mine and I really hope that one day, I will be wearing it for my country.
6. Do you consider yourself as a batting all-rounder or a bowling all-rounder?
I consider myself a batting all-rounder at the moment, but I hope in the long run, I can be a genuine all-rounder that can be picked in either discipline. It is always nice to contribute as much as you can.
7. How has it been playing for Victoria? How has it helped you develop as a cricketer?
I’ve been very lucky to play with Victoria during such a successful period for the state. When I made my debut, 9 of the 11 players in the team had played for Australia. I’ve been lucky enough to work closely with Victoria’s most successful batsman – Brad Hodge. He has helped me not just as a batsman, but as an all-round cricketer.
8. How was it being a part of the Big Bash League? How different do you think the IPL will be from it?
The Big Bash League this year around was very exciting for everyone involved. There was plenty of entertainment for the crowd, there were good fan bases for all the teams and it was very enjoyable to be involved in the event. I think the IPL will be a bit similar, only 10 times bigger!!
9. Which batsman do you idolize?
The one batsman I idolize the most is probably Mike Hussey. Just the way he adjusts so well between formats and in different situations, makes him the ideal player for me to look up to.
10. How do you think the IPL will help you build your game?
I think the IPL will be a great learning curve for me. I am really looking forward to talking to the more experienced Test players and just draining them for knowledge; that can only be a good thing for my game and hopefully I can use some of the advice during the tournament.
11. What is your next goal after the IPL?
After the IPL I’m going to be heading over to England to play some county cricket there and hopefully find a way to break into the Australia A side that would be playing there during June-July.
Read other Sportskeeda interviews
https://www.sportskeeda.com/2012/04/03/exclusive-interview-with-australian-batsman-peter-forrest/
https://www.sportskeeda.com/2012/03/07/exclusive-interview-with-australian-bowler-mitchell-starc/