‘Deserves a movie’: World goes berserk over Glenn Maxwell miracle

The cricket world is going berserk over Glenn Maxwell and there’s now a suggestion the real story hasn’t been told properly.

Glenn Maxwell has left the cricket world in awe once again — and it’s led to some interesting comments.

The Aussie superfreak smashed an unbeaten 104 as Australia pulled off a stunning chase of 223 in the third T20 international against India to stay alive in the series with a five-wicket win on Wednesday morning.

The swashbuckling batsman struck his 100 in 47 balls and completed the win with a six and three fours on the final four balls off the 20th over in Guwahati.

It was Maxwell’s fourth T20 century as he joined Rohit Sharma with the most tons in the format and immediately cast a 123 by Ruturaj Gaikwad in India’s 3/222 into the shade.

Maxwell’s hundred was the joint fastest in the format for an Australian batsman alongside Aaron Finch and Josh Inglis.

The scariest man in cricket. Photo by Biju BORO / AFP.

Australia, who won the ODI World Cup after beating hosts India in the final earlier this month, still trail the five-match series 2-1 with the fourth T20 on Friday in Raipur.

Maxwell, in his 100th T20 international and his last of the series before his return home, struck eight fours and eight sixes and put on an unbeaten 91-run stand with skipper Matthew Wade, who hit 28.

Maxwell’s knock brought back memories of his matchwinning 201 not out in a 50-over World Cup match against Afghanistan earlier this month when he pulled off a miraculous chase from 7/91.

He also smashed 106 off 44 balls against the Netherlands in the group stage, scoring all of his runs from the 40th over onwards.

He is flying home with Inglis, Marcus Stoinis and Sean Abbott on Wednesday — one day after Steve Smith and Adam Zampa also returned to Australia.

Maxwell is flying home after one of the most extraordinary individual tours cricket has ever seen.

There are now calls to turn the story into a movie.

His story has all the ingredients of a Hollywood drama with his wife Vini Raman also involved in controversy throughout the World Cup.

Glenn Maxwell and wife Vini Raman. Photo: Instagram.

She was one of several people, including Travis Head’s wife Jessica, who found themselves the target of vile social media attacks after Australia’s victory in the World Cup final.

Most importantly, however, the story ends with another display of transcendent cricket.

Leading cricket journalist Bharat Sundaresan wrote on Twitter: “Only Glenn Maxwell. Only Glenn Maxwell could have capped off an extraordinary two and a half months in India, worthy of a movie in itself, with another freak show of ridiculousness before heading home.”

Cricket commentator Aatif Nawaz also wrote: “Another awe-inspiring knock from Glenn Maxwell.

“He scores 104 off 48 balls as Australia sensationally chase 223 against India to get back into the T20 series. When Maxwell is on it, there is no-one in the world who matches him for logic-defying chases. Incredible.”

He finished the ODI World Cup with 400 runs, NCA NewsWire reports.

He now boasts the highest Australian ODI score, the second-highest T20 score, behind only Finch’s unfathomable 172 against Zimbabwe, the second most amount of sixes and the most runs for Australia batting at number four and five.

He has the highest career strike rate of any batter, across his 100 games too, and will soon pass Finch’s record for the most games, which is 103.

Add to that his record for Australia’s fastest ODI century, off just 51 balls, the equal-fastest ODI 50, off just 18 balls, and Maxwell’s place in Australian cricket folklore remains assured.

Wade said it was a special performance.

“Maxy has had a lot of cricket over the last bit and his body is ready to go home … he needs some rest,” said Wade.

“It’s mentally more, and a little bit physically. He’s come back from quite a bad injury and 50-over cricket takes it out of you.

“A performance like that may not happen if he didn’t know he was getting the opportunity to go home and rest. I’m really happy for him, his 100th game, he found a way to bring his best and we’re happy he can go home with his family and rest, as we have a lot of cricket coming up.

“It was a really special moment for him, he’s one of our best players who has ever played and I’m sure he wanted to make it a winning one and he did it himself.”

– with AFP