One of the finest English spinners of all time, Graeme Swann feels that swashbuckling all-rounder Glenn Maxwell is flourishing in his new role of being the ‘third guy’ in the team rather than being the lone destroyer. He is regarded as one of the most destructive batsmen of the modern generation but getting a new role in Royal Challengers Bangalore have worked perfectly with Maxwell.
Maxwell continued his tremendous run in the IPL so far as he smashed a 49 balls 78 and helped RCB recover from a precarious situation. His innings was studded with 9 fours and three sixes and this is only the second time in IPL history that Maxwell has scored back to back half-centuries.
Swann feels that not having the extra burden to carry the entire innings had not only benefitted him but also the team. Maxwell was bought for a whopping Rs 14.25 crores which Swann feels is an extraordinarily large amount of money. However, Swann feels that the franchise is getting the best out of the player in a fresh season that is working in favour of everyone concerned.
"He surprised me more than anyone. I thought it was a bonkers amount of money they spent on him in the auction. But they said 'no, he has got the strike rate in the middle, we're backing him'. Sanjay Bangar has been the batting coach the last two times he has been among the runs. I think he feels happy, he feels relaxed. He played really good shots. He's got his reverse hit back," Swann was quoted as saying on Star Sports.
Swann feels that despite being consistent in the tournament so far, he has not lived up to his reputation of being called ‘The Big Show’ and is not matching up to the level which he performed earlier. However, this has allowed him to find a different side of him. In the first three matches, Maxell has scored 39, 56 and 78 as RCB started off their campaign with three back to back victories.
"He's not the big cheese anymore, the big mac, the Big Show… whatever you call him. He's nowhere near being the Big Show. But he's got Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers in the team, and it really suits him, to be that third player who can just go out there and express himself, without having to carry the team. This suits him. He looks in a very good place, he looks very fit," Swann further added.