Glenn Maxwell has gleaned confidence from improbable circumstances as Australia try to battle back after going 1-0 down to England in the one-day international series.
The tourists, striving to remain competitive as well as good-humoured despite the absence of key players through injury and suspension this summer, were bowled out for a paltry 214 at The Oval on Wednesday.
England, however, were then hardly impressive with the bat either as they scrambled a three-wicket win – albeit with six overs to spare.
The task facing new captain and coach Tim Paine and Justin Langer respectively is an unenviable one as Australia try to win back friends – and a few cricket matches along the way – without the banned Steve Smith and David Warner.
Paine’s predecessor Smith and his deputy Warner are serving year-long bans for their part in the ball-tampering controversy which marred Australia’s Test tour of South Africa in March.
Without them, others have yet to prove they can make up the shortfall in runs.
But Maxwell, top-scorer two days ago with 62, was encouraged by Australia’s sterling attempt to defend a paltry target.
“To be able to push England as far as we did with such a below-par total gives us a lot of confidence,” he said. “We couldn’t have batted much worse, but we still gave ourselves a chance at the end.”
As for his own performance, he added: “I left 13 or 14 overs out there. But having said that, I felt I hit the ball well and stuck to my strengths.
“I hope it is a building block for the rest of the tournament. It’s a start. But the team is looking for big hundreds and match-winning scores – and 60s are not match-winning scores.”
Maxwell is out to restate his international ambitions after failing to impress Smith at times with his practice methods.
He said: “I’ve continued to train as hard as I can, try to be the number one trainer for everyone else to aspire to. If I can continue to lead the way on the training track, then I hope that leads to results on the field.”
