Star Australian all-rounder Glenn Maxwell has conceded he’s still testing the limits of what his injured ankle can do but will be “100 per cent ready” for his team’s opening World Cup clash against India on Sunday in Chennai.
Maxwell had missed more than six months of international cricket due to a flare-up with his previously-broken leg which halted his return in South Africa before he returned home for the birth of his first child.
He played the last of three ODIs against India and showed his World Cup value smashing six-sixes in a team high score of 77 as Australia defeated Pakistan in the final warm-up match before the tournament begins.
Maxwell said he’s still working out how to best manage the ongoing issues with his ankle and has been experimenting with things like taping and how to warm-up.
But the 34-year-old, who also bowled eight overs, said he got through the clash against Pakistan as well as could have been hoped and he’s finding the best ways to be at his best for the tournament.
“I feel 100 per cent ready for that opening game,” he said after the game.
“We were testing out a few things like how we tape the ankle, how it bounces back after being a bit stiff, not warming up, so we’ve tested a few things out.
“I had two different spells out on the field bowling as well as running around just to see how the ankle reacts when it is put under a bit of duress.
“Even though I batted for a while I left a fair bit in the tank running between the wickets, I didn’t have to bat at the back end so I wasn’t moving around too much.
“So to counter that I was having a bit of a bowl and seeing how it feels coming on cold.
“For me personally, that was the perfect test to see how it goes under those different bits of duress and I feel like I have come out the other side really well.”
Maxwell’s bowling looms as crucial for Australia’s World Cup chances with just one specialists spinner, Adam Zampa, in the 15-man squad and no help from injured opener Travis Head early in the tournament.
He said the ball was coming out “out as well as it ever has” in a positive sign for his team.
Both Marnus Labuschagne and David Warner also bowled against Pakistan and Maxwell said getting extra overs in the hot conditions was something the Australians needed to have in their weaponry.
“It was crucial for those other guys to get some overs in just to see how they go and I suppose that’s why Heady gives us such a great balance to have that extra spin option,” he said.
“We can see how successful it can be over here to get through an over here or there, keep the run rate down and allow the quicks a rest to come back at them.”