Maxwell looking to deliver on big stage

While his output for Australia has been minimal in 2016, history suggests Glenn Maxwell will deliver when it matters most – on the big stage.

Surrounding Maxwell's swashbuckling 96 against India at the MCG last month is a run of low scores, with the allrounder failing to reach double figures in his last five starts for Australia, including two ducks.

But that won't concern Maxwell, who has delivered in Australia's last two global tournaments - the 2014 World T20 and 2015 Cricket World Cup – despite shirking the idea he thrives under in the spotlight.

"I like to think I'm just a handy player in our team, I wouldn't say I'm a big game player," Maxwell told reporters on Tuesday.

"I feel like I just try to play my role in the team as well as I can, no matter what the tournament.

"I don't think you have to try to get yourself up anymore for different tournaments.

"Every game you get to play for your country is just as important as any other."

The Victorian was Australia's shining light in the 2014 World T20 in Bangladesh, posting his highest score of 74 against Pakistan in Dhaka, while in last year's World Cup on home soil, he scored a breakthrough century against Sri Lanka in the group stage and was later named in the official Team of the Tournament.

But outside his stellar run in Bangladesh two years ago, Maxwell's numbers in the game's shortest format are less than encouraging.

In 23 innings for Australia in T20 cricket, the 27-year-old averages 18.61, with only one half-century – that 74 in Dhaka.

While those numbers don't make for good reading, Maxwell says it's the infrequency of T20 matches for Australia that has hindered his performance at the top level.

Indeed, his extended run in the one-day international outfit peaked spectacularly at the World Cup 12 months ago.

And his record for his KFC Big Bash League club, the Melbourne Stars, is impressive when he strings together consecutive games.

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In his five matches for the Stars this summer, Maxwell scored 151 runs in five innings at an average of 37.75 with two half-centuries – virtually double his international record.

"With T20 we've played it quite varyingly as a team at international level," Maxwell said when asked about his T20 record for Australia.

"It's been the (2012) T20 World Cup in Sri Lanka and (2014) T20 World Cup in Bangladesh that we've played only a few games in a row where you can get a roll on.

"The start of my career I was a bits and pieces player, batting lower down the order and bowling more as well."

Debuting at No.8 in 2012, Maxwell has batted in five different positions, but has settled into the No.4 spot in four of his last five matches.

That's where Maxwell sees himself in Australia's order for the three-match T20 series against South Africa, and the World T20 that follows.

But he might be forced down one spot to No.5, with four of Shane Watson, David Warner, Usman Khawaja, Steve Smith and Aaron Finch likely to stack the top order.

However, should the state of the game dictate an injection of Maxwell's livewire stroke play, he could be bumped up the list.

"We’ve got a pretty heavy batting order that everybody is fighting for a spot in," Maxwell said.

"Hopefully, (he can bat) about that four or five spot.

"Depending on the situation …if we're going pretty well I think I'll be pushed up the order a little bit to hopefully try and combat the spinners and that's going to be pretty key leading into the big tournament."