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'Is He Your 10-over Bowler?', Ex-India Player Expresses Doubts Over Maxwell's Bowling

image-ln77h1tbGlenn Maxwell is renowned for his handy off-spin 

Former Indian batsman Aakash Chopra has voiced concerns over Australian chief selector George Bailey's decision to view Glenn Maxwell as a frontline spinner for the upcoming World Cup 2023.

Chopra questions Maxwell's suitability as primary spinner

As Australia gears up for the tournament, they have predominantly banked on leg-spinner Adam Zampa, especially after left-arm spinner Ashton Agar was sidelined due to an injury. 

To fill the void, Marnus Labuschagne, primarily a batsman, was added to the 15-man squad. In defense of this selection, Bailey positioned Maxwell as a "specialist spinner".

While reviewing the Australian squad for the World Cup 2023 on his YouTube channel, Chopra pinpointed the scarcity of spinners as a potential weak link. He remarked that while Australia boasts an impressive World Cup track record, the current team composition might be a gamble.

“Australia is an interesting team. No other side has won more World Cups than them. They know how to win, how to play well, and turn it on in the big events. This has been the team’s strength, but there are some issues in the squad," said Chopra.

The Indian veteran further commented on the heavy dependence on Zampa, and with Agar's unfortunate sidelining due to injury, wondered if Maxwell could consistently shoulder the responsibility of delivering 10 overs in crucial matches.

Though acknowledging Maxwell's commendable performance against India in a recent match in Rajkot, where the all-rounder picked up 4 wickets for 40 runs, Chopra still expressed reservations about Maxwell's dependability as the main spinner in high-pressure World Cup games.

“In India, you need spinners to come and bowl, but there are hardly any spinners. They have Adam Zampa and Glenn Maxwell. The latter picked four wickets recently, dismissing Rohit and Kohli as well. He was very good, but is he your reliable 10-over bowler? When asked about it, George Bailey said Maxwell can’t be taken lightly; he is a good bowler,” added the renowned commentator.

As the tournament progresses, it remains to be seen whether Maxwell can live up to the expectations set by the Australian selectors.