Hercules Maxwell

Miracles are true. If you believe that miracles happen in life then your belief is not at all absurd. Your self-belief can lead to some wonderful miraculous stories. And, in fact, no miracles can happen until and unless there are difficulties – once all the struggles are grasped, miracles happen – what is life if there is no story of miracles – what is cricket if does not produce a miracle on the biggest stages!

When Mitchell Starc walked back to the dressing room during the group stage match of the ICC Cricket World Cup at Mumbai against Afghanistan – Australia were reeling at 91 for 7 and everyone was waiting to tell you the story of another Afghan fairytale – the big Glenn Maxwell thought of motivating himself from this hopeless situation and essay tone of the greatest knocks in the history of 50-over format.

Maxwell missed his side's win against England last week after suffering a concussion following a freak golf cart accident last week but returned with a phenomenal knock that is already part of cricket’s folklore.

The heat and humidity at Mumbai had taken a toll on Maxwell and in the 41st over he was seen agonizing with pain prompting the next batter, the number 19, Adam Zampa to wait by the boundary line while the physio patched him up to keep him going.

It was not about skill anymore but the strength of temperament – being an Australian, Maxwell knows what mental strength is all about. The man transformed into Hercules and relied on his big-hitting abilities that witnessed the ball leaving orbit several times as it was raining sixes in Mumbai.

No footwork, but clean hitting by standing tall at the crease smothered the Afghanistan bowlers as Maxwell took the game away from them gradually.

Nevertheless, he was well aided by his skipper Pat Cummins who kept one end firm and scored a mere 12 runs facing over sixty-six deliveries.

The mayhem of Glenn Maxwell

Maxwell had walked in to face Omarzai's hat-trick ball in the ninth over. He was then involved in a mix-up, which cost Australia the wicket of Marnus Labuschagne and then witnessed the ship sinking in the Indian Ocean fast and something had to be done.

Drastic situations demand drastic measures and he unleashed hell on the Afghan bowlers.

Mujeeb Ur Rahman could have dismissed Maxwell on 33 had he not dropped a sitter at short fine leg.

Maxwell then walloped Noor Ahmad over midwicket. He smashed Mujeeb over his head and carted Mohammed Nabi over midwicket too. The reverse sweep and other trick shots were also on display in Mumbai as he surged to a hundred off 76 balls. He then needed just 52 balls for his second hundred.

At the other end, Cummins defended resolutely.

When 21 runs were needed off 24 balls for Australia's win and Maxwell's double-hundred, he went 6,6,4,6 against Mujeeb and created history most astonishingly.

Maxwell's 201 not out is the highest score ever by a batter at number six or lower in 4696 ODIs.

This is also the first double-hundred by an Australian in ODI cricket and the third double-ton in World Cups.

Maxwell's unbroken 202-run stand with Cummins is also the highest for the eighth wicket or lower in ODI cricket.

What a knock from the Hercules Maxwell!