Follow UsAfter starting the series at No.5, Glenn Maxwell suddenly switched to opening the batting in the five-match T20I series against the West Indies. Across the three innings as an opener, the all-rounder has smashed 12 (10), 20 (7) and 47 (18) to give Australia headstarts in all the encounters.
It has even led to speculation that Maxwell could become Australia’s new T20I opener, given his record at the top of the order. As an opener in T20Is, Maxwell has amassed 298 runs, including a sizzling 145* against Sri Lanka in Pallekele. However, the all-rounder put all those thoughts to rest, insisting that he’s just warming the seat for Travis Head.
"It's been great fun being at the top, but I'm sure I'm just warming Heady's seat until he comes back," Maxwell said.
"I think the way we're probably going to set up our T20 side heading forward is you've got Travis up the top, you've got Mitch Marsh, who is captaining us brilliantly at the moment.
One of Australia’s biggest headaches - that No.3 position - has now been solved on its own, with Josh Inglis picking up the mantle. The Leeds-born cricketer has scored 532 runs as an opener and is currently averaging 54.00 in the series against the West Indies.
"Ingo is doing a great job at No.3, and the rest of the order falls into place around that. We've got some unbelievable power hitting at the moment, we've seen some guys really put their hand up - Tim David, Mitch Owen and Cameron Green - throughout the middle,” Maxwell added.
Even Tim David, who just returned from injury a couple of games ago, struck a 37-ball century in St Kitts, smashing 11 sixes in a record-breaking knock. Maxwell believes that the lower-order could elevate this Australian setup ahead of their competitors.
"They're three pretty big blokes with big reach and they hit the ball an absolute mile so it's great to have those guys with that extra bit of power in the middle-order.
"It's not something we've had an abundance of over the years and to have that at our disposal at the moment is pretty exciting."