‘Steve Smith is looking “pretty scary” for the opposition teams,’ reckons Australian all-rounder Glenn Maxwell after the right-handed batsman smashed his second century in as many games against India on Sunday.
Smith’s quick-fire 104-run helped Australia to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match ODI series against India. “As he (Steve Smith) said the other day, he has found his hands,” Maxwell said during the virtual post-match press conference.
“He is looking pretty scary at the moment for opposition teams. He is placing the ball as well as anyone around the world. When he puts the foot down, he goes and goes hard,” Maxwell quipped.
“He is picking his spots. He is calculated (on the off-side) and he has got so much time at the moment. A lot of time, you judge him by the way he starts his innings and he just started by hitting the middle of the bat consistently.”
Maxwell, who also played an unbeaten knock of 63, said it was great to get a bit of momentum in ODI cricket after struggling in the recently-concluded IPL but also credited performing top-order for his success.
“I suppose, it comes down to situations and conditions. And Sydney has been a place where I have had a bit of success in the past, a great wicket to bat on, there is always a lot of space out there and I’m trying to find that short boundary.”
“But yes, it has been nice to sort of get a bit of momentum in ODI cricket. Sometimes it is not easy to find consistency in the long road, but when the top-order is doing their job as well as they are at the moment, that makes my role a lot easier down (at the) bottom,” he said.
Maxwell also credited openers, David Warner and skipper Aaron Finch, as their solid start provided the platform for massive totals.