Maxwell targeted 'subcontinent' trait in Afghanistan to make them unravel

WHILE THE WHOLE world and importantly the Afghanistan team watched him writhing in pain on the ground, and dealing with cramps in toes, calf, hamstring and back spasms, hoping he would buckle under, any moment, Glenn Maxwell had throughout been working on messing with their minds at Wankhede.

- SHIVANI NAIK

The sixes and fours would inevitably rain down later to catch on with the target. But it was the casual, smiling bullheadedness to survive, of Maxwell with Pat Cummins and some cricketing chess that the former played that ultimately broke Afghan backs and gave the Australians an epic win that cricket won't easily forget.

Maxwell is unlikely to play at the MCA Stadium on Friday against Bangladesh but speaking on the podcast Club Prairie Fire, he offered a peek into five-time world cup champions' response to the collapse at 91/7. The Australian batting unit reckon they have cracked the code to take chases deep.

Showtime for the Big Show began from the first delivery he faced at 49/4, a hattrick ball after the departure of David Warner and Josh Inglis. "I had nicked it and didn't believe it didn't carry to the keeper. I tried to stare blankly and not look guilty. But I saw them running around the batters a lot. I hoped they'd make a couple of emotional decisions, and burn a few reviews early. And if a few close lbw calls went against them, it could take a toll on them and I could start playing on their emotions," he told Adam Gilchrist and Michael Vaughn on the podcast.