Glenn Maxwell responds to criticism by Australian coach Darren Lehmann
Glenn Maxwell has responded to Australian national team coach Darren Lehmann’s public statements asking the him to bat more carefully, cricket.com.au reports. The all-rounder playfully remarked that Lehmann was just taking a dig at him trying to push him to perform better and added that he had a good relationship with the 45-year-old.
Following Victoria’s Matador BBQs One-Day Cup loss to Queensland, in which Maxwell’s dismissal after playing a loose shot in spite of his side losing two early wickets led to a collapse which Victoria never recovered from, Lehmann had advised Maxwell to lose his care-free attitude and to instead focus on playing longer innings, especially with slots in the Australian Test side up for grabs.
"He's exciting, but we have to see him be really hungry to make big runs," Lehmann told 6PR radio. "Take the example of his (Matador Cup) performance on Friday. He was out caught at deep third man, where the wicket was low and slow. He really could have played a technical innings, which we know he can do.”
Maxwell has enjoyed a rich vein of form over the past year, especially in the 50-over format, but Lehmann wants the 27-year-old to replicate similar form in the Test format as well.
"He's been brilliant for us over the last 12 months in the one-day format. But again, it's a case of him taking his game to the next level in the longer format," he added.
Maxwell did his bat do the talking with a Man of the Match performance against Western Warriors in the very next match and had a friendly dig at Lehmann following the match.
"He’s probably going to take credit for that, which is rubbish," Maxwell said with a laugh. He does it a fair bit, doesn’t he? I had a chat to him yesterday and it’s all good. He has a couple of snide remarks every now and again. He doesn’t mind having a dig at me, which is fine.”
Maxwell said that the pair share a cordial relationship and felt that Lehmann’s comments were only intended in bringing out the best in him.
"He knows I take it pretty well and I challenge him back. It’s a good relationship we have. He’s always driving me to be better and he wants me to be playing all three formats. It’s nice to be thought of that way. I’ve just got to make him pick me and then hopefully I can show him out in the field," Maxwell said.
Maxwell suggested that he would continue to play the way he ahs always done and is hopeful of earning a call-up to the Test side for the series against New Zealand.
"I’ve just got to make the most of that Shield game in Melbourne when we get back and just try to make as many runs as I can there and put my name up for the first Test. I don’t really set too many goals as far as runs or anything like that. I just want to make sure I’m contributing and trying to be the match-winner in every game I’m playing,” he said.
Maxwell expressed confidence that his stint with County side Yorkshire has given him the confidence to play the confidence to play in the longer format of the game and is eager to get an opportunity to showcase his skills.
"I had some good form in England playing red-ball cricket," he said. "I feel like my red-ball game is really good at the moment, so it’s about getting the opportunity to actually play it and show people.”
"Those people who turn up to the games and spray me, soaking that in and showing what I actually do in the red-ball game.
"That’s my role in most of the teams I play. It’s about trying to win the game for team and doing as well as I can."