The tour begins with the first of three T20Is on Sunday, followed by an equal number of ODIs. All eyes, however, will be on Maxwell, who has long been a cornerstone of Australia’s white-ball sides with his dual skillset and dynamic presence on the field
Glenn Maxwell (Photo: AFP)
As Australia prepares to kick off its white-ball tour of South Africa, star all-rounder Glenn Maxwell stands on the brink of joining a rare group of players in T20I history. The explosive right-hander needs just four wickets to become only the fourth cricketer to achieve the remarkable double of 2,500-plus runs and 50 wickets in men's T20 Internationals.
The tour begins with the first of three T20Is on Sunday, followed by an equal number of ODIs. All eyes, however, will be on Maxwell, who has long been a cornerstone of Australia’s white-ball sides with his dual skillset and dynamic presence on the field.
With 2,754 runs in 121 T20Is at an average of 29.29 and a blistering strike rate of 156.03, Maxwell already ranks as Australia’s third-highest run-scorer in the format. His T20I career includes five centuries and 11 fifties, with a highest score of 145 not out, that remains one of the most destructive innings in T20I history.
In addition to his batting prowess, Maxwell has proven effective with the ball, taking 46 wickets at an average of 30.08, with best figures of 3/10. With just four more scalps, he is set to etch his name alongside some of T20 cricket’s most versatile performers.
Only three players have achieved the 2,500-run and 50-wicket double so far: Shakib Al Hasan of Bangladesh, with 2,551 runs and 149 wickets from 129 matches, Mohammad Hafeez of Pakistan, with 2,514 runs and 61 wickets in 119 games, and Virandeep Singh of Malaysia, who boasts 3,013 runs and 97 wickets from 102 outings.
Maxwell’s credentials as a genuine all-rounder are especially significant as Australia continues to build depth in limited-overs cricket ahead of major ICC tournaments.
His recent form in the shortest format further underscores his continued impact. In five T20Is this year, Maxwell has scored 90 runs at an average of 18.00, but with a strike rate exceeding 195, indicating the kind of high-impact innings he can deliver. With the ball, he has taken three wickets at an average of 21.00, with best figures of 2/15.
Squads:
Australia Squad: Mitchell Marsh(c), Travis Head, Cameron Green, Josh Inglis(w), Tim David, Glenn Maxwell, Mitchell Owen, Ben Dwarshuis, Nathan Ellis, Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood, Sean Abbott, Matthew Short, Matthew Kuhnemann
South Africa Squad: Aiden Markram(c), Ryan Rickelton(w), Rassie van der Dussen, Dewald Brevis, Tristan Stubbs, George Linde, Prenelan Subrayen, Corbin Bosch, Kagiso Rabada, Nandre Burger, Lungi Ngidi, Senuran Muthusamy, Nqabayomzi Peter, Kwena Maphaka, Lhuan-dre Pretorius
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