'It adds up to a great package' – Finch finds Maxwell underrated

After a successful series against India, where he struck his third T20I century, Maxwell has peaked at a time when the Australian top order has been as prolific as it has in recent memory. And with various members of the middle order also finding form, it has essentially meant that runs have flown in from all parts of the Australian line-up.

Wednesday’s (27 March) third ODI against Pakistan offered further evidence of that as Australia had contributions from Aaron Finch at the top, Peter Handscomb in the middle, and Maxwell lower down to finish the innings. Maxwell made the most telling of those contributions, blasting 71 off 55 balls to shore up the Australian total as they registered 266/6 and then dismissed Pakistan for 186 to take a 3-0 lead and win the series.

"Once Finchy got out, it was up to me to make sure I was there for as long as possible towards the end," Maxwell said after the game. "I got a little bit of luck being dropped [on 27], but to make the most of that and control the back-end was nice and it gives us something we can bowl at."

Maxwell’s utility to the Australian side goes well beyond the destructive potential he brings with the bat. His off-spin often goes unnoticed, especially when he plays innings such as the one on Wednesday, but Maxwell’s bowling is pretty handy for a captain looking to get in extra overs from one of the non-frontline bowlers through the middle overs. He is also an electric fielder, especially at point, where he is impregnable on most days.

"Maxi is a player who people expect so much from every time he plays because he has so much brilliance at times," Finch said. "But I think what people don't see at times, when they get frustrated with him, is the amount of stuff he does in the field. If he averages 20 in a series, he might save 20 runs in the field as well.

"He bowls overs, gets some wickets. It all adds up to a great package. And the fact he's batting at six at the moment, to give us that little bit of extra firepower towards the back end is something we're conscious of and it's a role he fits really well."

Finch went on to call Maxwell a 360-degree batsman on account of his unorthodox strokeplay and brought up Maxwell’s ability to manipulate the field and to collect runs equally effectively from all parts of the ground. "Guys who can hit the ball 360 [degrees] are so hard to bowl to. As a captain, they're a nightmare. There's a handful of them in the world now," he said.

"You've got Jos Buttler, who can scoop you over the keeper's head, but also hit over mid-off. They're two obvious places where you always have a fielder up when you've got five [fielders outside the 30-yard circle]. When you need both of them out, it creates some problems. Maxi is no different to that."

Maxwell also adds value to the side from a captaincy perspective, being a part of the Australian leadership group in limited-overs cricket. Maxwell has captained Melbourne Stars at the Big Bash League and has stated his desire to lead in the past. And while he may not be captain of the current team, his inputs are highly valued by the incumbent Finch.

"I probably take care of certain positions for certain players, making sure the right guys are at the right position at the right time," Maxwell said. "And that just takes a load off his [Finch's] shoulders.

"He's got a lot to work on with bowling changes, the numbers going through his head and making sure the right guys are bowling the right overs. I just make sure the right people are in the right spots."