Ind vs Aus 2nd T20: Consistency is key to success, says Glenn Maxwell

 Bengaluru: Australia all-rounder Glenn Maxwell attributed his success to the consistent role he has been entrusted with the team management in the shortest format.

Maxwell, who had been playing as a finisher, said batting at a new position of number four for the past one year has helped him develop his game.

"Coming at two-down for the past 12 months has had a consistent role for me. Once I get that consistency of role, you can start to see consistency in performance, and that’s probably what’s led to this," ICC quoted Maxwell, as saying.

The 30-year-old batsman indicated towards a mental reset in which he is more conscious in picking the right balls to go after.

"I feel I have just been picking off balls that I feel I can hit for boundaries, he said. I did not feel like I took too many risks. I was able to hit the balls where the fielders were not. There are not many times I hit it over a fielder’s head, it is more in the gap.”

“I think that has been key for me when I have had success. When I am actually going, if I mistime it, it still lands in the gap. Just felt like today I had a good read of the game and was able to stay one step ahead."

Maxwell, who took on Jasprit Bumrah in the 17th over, said that it was a conscious move on his part to go after the bowler.

"That was a key over. If that goes for only four or five, you suddenly need 13 an over, and it only takes six good yorkers from him to push that up to 18-19 an over, and that could be quite difficult to get in the two other overs, I was just hoping that he would miss a couple of times and I could pounce on that.”

“He has done me in a fair few times in T20 cricket, especially for Mumbai [Indians, in the IPL]. I have changed my approach against him a little bit: just wait for a ball that is slightly off and just capitalise on that."

Maxwell was the hero for Australia, helping his side beat India in a two-match T20I series 2-0. He played an unbeaten knock of 113 in the second match.

The player would now be hoping to continue his good form in the ODI series as well to cement his place in the Australian World Cup squad.

Australia will now take on India in a five-match ODI series, beginning March 2 in Hyderabad.