Maxwell slot a head-scratcher for rookie

LIKE most in the Australian camp, rookie paceman Jason Behrendorff has no idea where Glenn Maxwell should bat.

Maxwell, batting at No.7, faced five deliveries in Australia’s confidence-boosting win against India in Sunday’s series-opening one-day international in Sydney.

Maxwell made 11 not out but his limited time at the crease was deemed a waste of his talents by commentators, including Mark Waugh and Shane Warne.

As the Australians arrived in Adelaide yesterday for game two in the three-match series tomorrow, Behrendorff admitted uncertainty about Maxwell’s best batting slot.

“To be honest, I’m not sure too sure what his right position is,” he said.

“But No.7 is a pretty crucial role in that middle order towards the back-end (of an innings). So if we can have Maxy in in the last few overs, we know that he can hit it to any part of the ground.

“And that is where probably he’s more of an all-round role, if he gets a few more overs with the ball you can really justify him at seven.”

Maxwell bowled two wicketless overs and conceded 18 runs in the Sydney triumph.

The Australians posted 5-288 and restricted India to 9-254 with Behrendorff taking 2-39 on his ODI debut and fellow novice paceman Jhye Richardson claiming 4-26 and man-of-the-match honours in his fifth ODI.

Behrendorff said the result was a fillip for the confidence of the Australians.

“To know we’re a relatively new team in the ODI set-up, to be able to knock off India, to play really well … it was great,” he said.

But the 28-year-old leftarm quick said celebrations were short-lived.

“Of course there’s time for them (India) to come back,” he said. “It’s a new day on Tuesday, a new game, we all start afresh.

“Yes, we’re up one-nil. But you look at their side, they’re a class outfit so we will expect them to come back firing and give us a really good fight.

“But we’re feeling really good and I know that they’re probably hurting a little bit after a loss.”