Maxwell absence ‘destabilises’ Australia for World Cup ‘danger game’

An Aussie cricket legend believes an unusual incident will destabilise Australia’s team for a World Cup danger game against England.

Mike Hussey says Glenn Maxwell’s golf cart concussion has destabilised Australia’s line-up for a World Cup “danger game” against England.

Australia sit third on the table and two wins out of their remaining three games against England, Afghanistan and Bangladesh will be enough to secure a spot in the semi-finals.

But the Aussies will field a weakened line-up against England on Saturday night (AEDT) after Mitch Marsh flew home for personal reasons and Glenn Maxwell suffered a concussion after falling off a golf cart.

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England have lost five of their six games so far but Fox Cricket’s Hussey believes the Poms will present a serious challenge and could well beat their arch rivals.

“Obviously they’ve underperformed massively in this tournament but they’re a proud group,” Hussey told news.com.au.

“They’ll want nothing more than to beat Australia and derail Australia’s march towards the semi-finals. I think that would give them a lot of satisfaction.

“I must admit I am nervous. I’m not going to tip against the Aussies. They’ll hopefully get the job done but I think this is a huge danger game, really.

Glenn Maxwell will miss Australia’s clash with England. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)

“England are a proud team and Australia obviously have a strong rivalry with England over many years, plus it’s heightened after the Ashes.

“The two teams don’t like each other very much. I’m nervous. I think Australian should win but it’s not going to be smooth sailing. It’s going to be a real fight.”

The absence of Marsh and Maxwell, two of Australia’s best players in the tournament so far, could open the door for an England upset.

Describing the duo’s omission as a “spanner in the works”, Hussey said: “A couple of changes there. Does that destabilise the Aussies a little bit? We’ll have to wait and see. I’m sure it will to a degree. It’s going to be a fascinating contest.“

Scoring the fastest ever World Cup century against the Netherlands, Maxwell has been in superb form. Hussey believes Australia will miss his contribution with the ball as much as hit power hitting.

“It’s a big disruption to Australia though because he’s been playing so well of late,” he said.

“Obviously with the bat, being so dynamic and aggressive. He looks in top form and we’re seeing consistency from Maxwell.

“But his bowling has been really important for Australia. I think in Indian conditions, his offspin has been really effective and he’s bowled bloody well actually.

“So to lose that, it does actually destabilise Australia’s balance of the team a bit more. Travis Head can bowl some handy overs but he’s not as a good a bowler as Maxwell is.

“I think that’s where Australia will feel it the most. They can probably cover the batting side of things. They’ve got enough medium pace options but they’re going to find it hard to cover that spin option from Maxwell.”

Maxwell’s bowling has been as important as his batting. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)

After breaking his leg at a friend’s birthday party last year, Maxwell has been struck down in unusual circumstances once again.

“Glenn Maxwell seems to be the one finding these crazy injuries. When he broke his leg, it seems like a weird way to hurt himself as well,” Hussey said.

“It’s unusual. You don’t see this too often at all. I obviously don’t know what they were getting up to. It seems like golf carts and golf courses are a bit of a hazard for cricketers.

“I think Jonny Bairstow broke his leg very badly a couple of years ago at a golf course. Now Maxi’s missing a game as well.

“Look, we’ve just got to take it on face value. An accident’s happened, he’s fallen off and bumped his head. Let’s hope it’s a mild concussion, he misses just the one game, gets through the protocols OK and we can all move on.”

Fellow all-rounder Marcus Stoinis said of Maxwell’s concussion: “It’s unfortunate. It was one of those things. Unfortunately happened with boys being boys to an extent.”

Maxwell has returned to training and the Australians are confident he will be fit to play in Tuesday’s game against Afghanistan.

England looms as a danger game for the Aussies. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)

Asked how he would spend his time between games on tour, Hussey showed why he was known as ‘Mr Cricket'.

“We would get out and play the odd game of golf, some more than others,” he recalled.

“I know Ricky Ponting would get out there a fair bit. I pretty much bunkered down.

“I was a bit of a movie buff so I’d lock myself in my room, shutting the curtains, getting a good movie on just recovering and relaxing from training.

“I found it pretty hard to get injured lying in my bed watching a movie so it’s probably a better pastime to have than chasing a little golf ball around.”

Watch every ball of Australia vs England on Saturday at 7.30pm AEDT on Fox Cricket and Kayo Sports.