Australian all-rounder Glenn Maxwell believes that playing in the second half of the Indian Premier League (IPL 2021) in the UAE will “do wonders” for his team going into the ICC T20 World Cup 2021.
He further said every participant in the upcoming IPL 2021 is looking forward to hitting the ground running to get used to the conditions in the UAE before the T20 World Cup.
Maxwell told icc-cricket.com ahead of the resumption of IPL 14: “The fact we've got a lot of guys going over for the IPL as a preparation, get a few games in those conditions, it's going to do wonders for our batters. Our bowlers are going to be up and firing by the time the tournament starts. I can assure you everyone is looking forward to hitting the ground running over there.”
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He further added, “The tournament being in UAE probably levels the playing field a little bit. Probably makes it a little bit easier for there not to be as much of a home-ground advantage. For the IPL to be there to have a lot of international players that are potentially going to be in that World Cup over there playing, I think it's probably leveled the playing field a fair bit.”
On Australia’s T20 World Cup squad, the all-rounder said: “I think they're very good. When this team comes together, I think we'll slip straight back into us being in a great position. We're all looking forward to it. You look through our line-up; we've got a team full of match winners and guys that on their day can take the game away from the opposition.”
Maxwell further noted: “The key for us to win a T20 World Cup this year is to get off to a fast start. Teams that can get off to a good start early in the tournament, get a couple of players on fire, get a couple of batters in good form, and get a couple of bowlers taking early wickets, that is the key to a lot of teams winning these tournaments.”
Australia placed in Group A of Super 12s round alongside West Indies, England, and South Africa in the T20 World Cup, who will be joined by two qualifiers from first round and Maxwell said “there are no weak teams in this World Cup and his team knows that and they have also got a very good chance of beating everyone on their day”.
He signed off by saying, “Both groups are going to be tough, it doesn't matter. As I said before there are no weak teams in this World Cup so every game is going to be tough for us. If we play our best, I feel that's going to be good enough on the day. I think we'll be focusing solely on what we can do every game and hopefully, that is good enough at the end of the day.”
(With ANI Inputs)
