Glenn Maxwell’s incredible unbeaten 201* against Afghanistan in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 has not only secured Australia’s place in the semi-finals but has also left an indelible mark on the cricketing world. Former Australia skipper Ricky Ponting believes that Maxwell’s astonishing innings will be a source of immense belief and confidence for the Australian team, potentially becoming a pivotal moment in their pursuit of a sixth World Cup title.
Despite grappling with severe cramps and a back spasm, Glenn Maxwell’s unbeaten double-century against Afghanistan was a display of sheer grit and remarkable quality. This extraordinary innings has captured the attention of cricket fans worldwide and is hailed as one of the most remarkable feats in the sport’s history. Ricky Ponting, speaking after the match, expressed his astonishment, stating that it was the best innings he could remember.
“I have been around a lot of games playing and calling, and I have never seen anything like that, and I’ll be very surprised if I see anything like that ever again. It was the most remarkable thing you’ve probably ever seen in cricket,” Ponting exclaimed.
Ponting drew a comparison between Glenn Maxwell’s innings and Ben Stokes’ iconic Test performance at Headingley during the Ashes series in 2019. He noted that Maxwell’s innings surpassed Stokes’ in terms of importance and magnitude, given the significance it holds for the Australian cricket team’s journey to the World Cup semi-finals.
“Ben Stokes’ Test innings to win it (third Ashes Test in 2019) at Headingley was something that I had never seen before, and I think this one goes past that just for the sheer enormity of what it means for the Australian cricket team making the World Cup semi-finals,” said Ponting.
Australia’s victory against Afghanistan marked their sixth consecutive win in the World Cup, a remarkable turnaround from their initial two losses. The team displayed resilience and determination as they fought back to secure a spot in the semi-finals. Their upcoming semi-final clash against South Africa holds historical significance, as it rekindles memories of the infamous 1999 World Cup semi-finals, where Australia narrowly edged out South Africa.
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Ricky Ponting believes that Glenn Maxwell’s heroic innings against Afghanistan may catalyze Australia to maintain their winning momentum. The belief and self-assurance instilled by Maxwell’s performance are vital as Australia seeks their sixth World Cup title. The ability to win crucial moments is a hallmark of great teams, and Ponting emphasizes the importance of such belief in World Cup campaigns.
“All the great teams that I’ve played with and all the great teams that I’ve been around have always had that belief that they can win from anywhere, and literally anywhere, even World Cup campaigns that I played in,” Ponting said.
“We had games where we probably shouldn’t have won, but someone was there with that belief to put their hand up and win the game. And that’s what I talk about with Australia in World Cups. They’ve got this knack of being able just to win the big moments, and today was a huge moment as they qualify for the World Cup semi-finals now and hopefully onwards and upwards for them,” he concluded.
Australia’s final league match against Bangladesh is expected to be a dead rubber game since Bangladesh has already been eliminated from the World Cup, and Australia has secured their spot in the semi-finals. However, Australia will aim to maintain their winning streak to carry the positive momentum into the semi-finals.
