280. Get Back to Grade Cricket, with Glenn Maxwell

The Australian cricket team is facing criticism and scrutiny following their recent loss to India. There is a sense of decline in Australian cricket, with the team's performance seemingly falling away from its recent success. The podcast discusses possible solutions, including sending players back to lower grades of cricket, but ultimately concludes that the team's struggles stem from systemic issues rather than individual failings.

Australian team performance

• 00:00:00 The Australian cricket team has been successful in recent years but has suffered a catastrophic loss to India. The team has been criticized for being too nice and lacking the intimidation factor that characterized previous generations of Australian cricketers.

Glenn Maxwell's experience

• 00:54:15 Glenn Maxwell discusses his book, 'The Showman,' which details his journey in Australian cricket, including his struggles with mental health and the pressure of being a misunderstood player. He describes how he often felt judged by the team's success rather than his individual performance, leading to feelings of inadequacy and anxiety.

The role of the team environment

• 01:14:34 Maxwell believes that the team environment has become more understanding and caring in recent years, making it easier for players to express their struggles and maintain their sense of self. He contrasts this with the 'cardboard cutout' mentality of previous generations, where players were expected to conform to a specific image and suppress any negative emotions.

Australia's bowling attack

• 01:19:55 Maxwell highlights the threat posed by India's bowlers, specifically Jasprit Bumrah, who he believes has the potential to be the greatest fast bowler of all time. He describes Bumrah's unique action and delivery as incredibly difficult to face, especially given his ability to bowl both pace and spin with similar release points.

Bumrah's impact on the game

• 01:21:55 Maxwell suggests that Bumrah's performance in the Perth test match was a key factor in Australia's defeat, attributing it to a perfect storm of conditions, a tentative mindset from the Australian batters, and Bumrah being at the top of his game. He expresses hope that the team will be able to devise strategies to counter Bumrah in future games.

Australia's batting woes

• 01:26:08 The podcast discusses Australia's batting performance, particularly their struggles in the second innings of the Perth test match. The team's top order has been underperforming for some time, and their inability to deal with Bumrah was a major factor in their loss.

The decline of Australian cricket

• 01:37:45 Maxwell and the hosts agree that Australian test cricket has been in a state of decline since the World Test Championship final and the Ashes. They believe that the over-reliance on international players within the white ball setup has overshadowed the need to nurture a new generation of test cricketers.

The rise of Indian cricket

• 01:41:34 The podcast discusses the current state of Indian cricket, acknowledging their recent successes but also highlighting their struggles in certain conditions. They compare India's recent performances with England's, noting the contrast in their approach to developing new talent.

The IPL auction

• 01:47:45 The podcast covers the recent IPL auction, discussing the signings of various Australian players and the reunion of Glenn Maxwell with Ricky Ponting as his coach at the Punjab Kings. Maxwell expresses his excitement for the new season and the opportunity to work with Ponting once again.

The future of Australian cricket

• 02:13:00 The podcast concludes with a discussion about the future of Australian cricket, emphasizing the need for the selectors and the team management to start making difficult decisions and rebuilding the team. They acknowledge that the current team has earned the right to stay on for a while due to their past successes, but ultimately believe that it's time to start investing in the next generation of players.