Maxwell lays out plan for Cup win

But says he may not be picked

CRICKET: The Australian oneday team can “absolutely” rediscover their World Cupwinning form of 2015, star batsman Glenn Maxwell insists.

After being crowned T20 player of the year at the Australian Cricket Awards on Monday night, Maxwell outlined his team’s path back to the top.

Despite the high turnover of players in recent times, Maxwell could be one of six players from Australia’s 2015 World Cup success to return for the tournament in England this year.

The batting line-up could feature the same top three too, with the expected return of opener David Warner and former captain Steve Smith set to boost Australia’s chances.

Maxwell, Australia’s secondhighest scorer at the 2015 World Cup, said a return to batsmen playing with “freedom”, like they did then, would be crucial for the Aussies to go back-to-back.

In the 2015 tournament, Australia averaged 322 batting first, a figure they have struggled to reach recently, and lost just once on their way to victory over New Zealand in the final at the MCG.

“I think this team is going to need to take the game on in the way that’s cricket smart, with good cricket shots,” Maxwell said. “It’s a way of dominating the opposition, a solid way of playing one-day cricket.

“In 2015 it was just solid the whole way through. There were big risks but they didn’t feel like risks when they were happening. It was Aaron Finch charging opening bowlers and hitting them over the top, and you thought ‘that’s not a risk for Aaron Finch’.

“It was David Warner hitting the ball over point for four, and that wasn’t a risk. Steve Smith hitting the ball from outside off through forward square leg, that’s not a risk.

“It was just how players were playing. It was the way that whole team set itself up. Guys played their way, and with freedom. If we are going to win this World Cup we need to be able to play with freedom.”

In and out of the ODI side since that 2015 tournament, Maxwell isn’t prepared to pencil his name in for a World Cup return yet, despite his solid recent run in a new position.

New coach Justin Langer has installed him as a “floater” who will bat at number seven but be able to come in as required.

Critics have suggested that’s a waste of a player as talented as Maxwell, but the 30-year-old doesn’t agree.

“I don’t think the way we are setting up that I am wasted. I hadn’t done enough to warrant a place in that top four or five,” he said.

“I played a similar role in the World Cup and was able to be successful because of the success of the top order. They were getting hundreds, they were explosive starters. We always went the aggressive route back then and that played into my hands.

“I might not even be in the squad. The way that everything has been happening over the past 12 months, there’s a chance there could be changes.”