Will Sutherland’s six secures Melbourne Mace in front of massive MCG crowd
Maxwell is not that smart
Glenn Maxwell hasn’t had a happy start to the new year with the bat.
His two innings in the first four days of 2026 resulted in two runs in six balls.
He repeated his effort on Sunday night, Friday night and was out once again.
It was classic Maxwell. But it wasn’t smart. After two dot balls, he decided to send whatever came next over the boundary.
Left-arm setter Hassan Khan knew this was likely and bowled a slower ball to confuse Maxwell.
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Maxwell took the bait, mistimed his pre-agreed strike in the half and returned to the pavilion in the hope of the crowd watching him fly.
It was a win for spin bowling as fears grew about the future of the art form in Test cricket after the Australians did not select Todd Murphy in the fifth Test.
The topic is hot. Even Shane Warne’s son Jackson was asked on Fox what ‘Warnie’ would think of Australia not selecting a spinner in the last two Ashes tests.
“I think he used to act pretty dirty… and said, ‘If you need a spinner come out of retirement and take me there. I hope we still see some spinners coming in,'” Warne said. he said.
The asshole is probably being diplomatic and fair enough.
Glenn Maxwell has yet to have a major impact on the scoreboard in 2026.Credit: Getty Images
Maxwell, meanwhile, remains the tournament’s most dangerous player despite scoring just 43 runs from four innings in this year’s BBL and remains key to Australia’s hopes at the T20 World Cup in February.
There is no need to worry. This is T20. There’s no point in going out. What matters is your talent.
Maxwell needs a month of training and gigging to get himself in the right mood for the first match against Ireland in Sri Lanka on February 11.
Are you working hard, Fraser-McGurk?
Jake Fraser-McGurk may be a total duck, he doesn’t have dinner with the bat, but he’s normally extremely reliable on the field.
Not so on Sunday night, when he was as unsteady as a racehorse that has lost its jockey.
He was very keen on delivering a deep ball and helped the ball cross the boundary line in the second over.
Just four balls later he was under attack from Sam Harper, this season’s top BBL run-scorer, who blasted the ball into the air like a firework.
He lost his vision in the sun but held his position and caught the ball low.
“I don’t like wearing sunglasses on the field,” McGurk told Channel 7.
This was not the answer we expected from the talented young man.
But whatever works for you is the most important thing. He showed his talent in the next 13 balls, saving two runs with a brilliant outfield move and catching the ball once again.
But even Fraser-McGurk has the ability to field like a park cricketer.
On the last ball of the 17th over, Tom Curran was confused as he made a move towards mid-wicket.
Perhaps the broadcaster’s role at the microphone is too distracting during fieldwork.
It wasn’t his night. He scored just four runs from nine balls when the game was going to be won.
But he needs to open the batting, not sweat it out at number four.
Big Strike Brown
In 2016, no one had heard of Josh Brown. He was playing cricket in the third grade.
They do it now.
Josh Brown drove in 84 runs. Credit: Getty Images
Big Brown besieged the Stars everywhere, hitting four sixes and eight fours on his way to 84 from 48 balls. He lived dangerously but batted well.
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Tom Rogers dropped Brown just before he reached 50 and Mitch Swepson miraculously saved six by catching the ball just inside the boundary and releasing the ball as it crossed the boundary line.
If the Renegades had lost the boundary line decision, it would have been a hot topic as Swepson’s foot appeared to have touched the boundary before he released the ball.
