“It affected my family,” Glenn Maxwell reflects on drinking episode that led to his hospitalization

Maxwell had collapsed backstage in an incident that involved alcohol consumption.

 Glenn Maxwell | GettyAustralia’s star all-rounder Glenn Maxwell was the subject of media attention last month following an episode at an Adelaide pub that led to his hospitalization.

According to multiple Australian media reports, Maxwell had gone to a Brett Lee concert and collapsed backstage in an incident that involved alcohol consumption.

Reflecting on the event, Maxwell said he isn’t proud of it and admitted that it affected his family more than himself.

“I think probably it affected my family a little bit more than it affected me. I knew I had that week off. And obviously, that incident was less than ideal, and the timing. But I had that week off, I knew I had that week off away from the game. And I came back and got back into my running, my gym program, and it felt really good and refreshed once I got back. And it’s all been focused on getting myself ready for this (T20) series and what’s to come,” Maxwell said after hitting a record-equalling fifth T20I hundred against the West Indies in Adelaide on Sunday (February 11).

This was not the first time that Glenn Maxwell landed himself in trouble. In 2022, he suffered a broken left fibula in a horrific mishap during a friend's birthday party. The injury required urgent surgery and an extended rehabilitation period.

Subsequently, Australia head coach Andrew McDonald asked Maxwell to learn a lesson from the incident and look after himself.

Maxwell was thankful for the support he received from everyone around him. "I just moved on pretty quickly. I was back in training on Monday so I was pretty good. The coach, Bails, everyone really, they have been outstanding," he added.

Maxwell equaled India skipper Rohit Sharma’s record for most hundreds in men’s T20Is when he slammed an unbeaten 120 off 55 balls in the second T20I against the West Indies at the Adelaide Oval.

The swashbuckling right-hander revealed that he experienced a premonition about getting a hundred.

"I woke up this morning and I just had a funny feeling," Maxwell said. "I don't get it very often, and especially batting middle-order you don't get it often. But I just got a good look at their [West Indies] attack last game in Hobart, and felt like I got a good read of what they were bowling.

"I was disappointed getting out there in the same sort of scenario - short square boundaries with the ground quite similar, and another good wicket. So I felt like I'd missed out again, and I said 'you know what, I can't let this opportunity slip'.

"I said when I arrived [at Adelaide Oval] 'I feel like someone's getting a hundred tonight', and when I woke up this morning I felt like I was getting one. But you've still got to get the time and opportunity, and the time was probably perfect."

Coming to the match, Australia registered a comprehensive 34-run victory over West Indies in the second T20I to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.

Riding on Glenn Maxwell’s whirlwind century, the hosts racked up a mammoth 241/4 on the board.

In reply, the visitors managed 207/9 in their allotted 20 overs. While skipper Rovman Powell (63 off 36 balls) and Andre Russell (37 off 16 balls) tried their best with the bat, they failed to take the West Indies over the line.

(With Cricbuzz inputs)

 
 

By Salman Anjum - 12 Feb, 2024

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