Maxwell, Bell strike best form

Glenn Maxwell and Ian Bell have sent stern World Cup warnings to their opposition with a pair of sensational centuries in the annual Prime Minister’s XI fixture in Canberra.

Chasing an improbable and ultimately insurmountable target of 392, Maxwell played with the composure and orthodoxy that has eluded him in recent times.

Scorecard: England fire to defeat PM's XI

But tonight, the Maxwell Australian fans, teammates and selectors know and love was in full flight, carving out a breathtaking 136 from only 89 balls to leave the 8,077-strong Manuka Oval crowd wanting more.

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Glenn Maxwell acknowledges the crowd after reaching three figures // Getty Images

Gone were the reverse sweeps, ramp shots and ‘bazookas’. Instead the 26-year-old employed conventional stroke-play to flay the tourists to all parts of the nation’s capital, albeit opting for the aerial route with maximum aggression.

Maxwell hits an audacious six over cover

And while it wasn’t his most productive or stylish shot, his first ball leave safely outside off stump signified the horrors caused by his error in judgment a few weeks ago had left him, replaced with a soothing self-confidence.

If ever there was a scenario that permitted the Victorian to swing from the hip it was this one.

Set a seemingly impossible total, on wicket that was more Hume Highway than cricket pitch, in a match where the result was second to the dignitaries that attended, Maxwell had licence to stampede his way through the near full-strength English attack.

It was a display full of swagger that had new England captain Eoin Morgan scratching his head more than once.

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Glenn Maxwell looked in control during his great innings // Getty Images

Come the 21st over at 2-76, Maxwell targeted the medium pace of Ravi Bopara, working, flicking and driving his way to 21 off the over and announcing to the applauding audience it was time to launch.

Eleven more runs would come from off-spinner Luke Tredwell’s over, before Maxwell sent Bopara over the rope to raise his hundred, his helmet off his head and the applause of the vociferous attendance.

The timing could not be have been more perfect for Maxwell, silencing sceptics that doubted whether his form warranted a place in Australia’s 15-man Cricket World Cup squad.

"He played brilliantly," said Bell on Maxwell's innings.

"It shows the ability he has. If he plays in this Tri-Series and the World Cup teams are going to have to close him down pretty quickly.

"But he showed he's got a great eye, and all around the ground. It was tough."

And to think, 187 off 145 balls wouldn’t be the most memorable innings of the day.

Bell's posts England's highest 50-over score

England’s new opening combination of Bell and Moeen Ali continued to blossom, combining for 113 before the ultra-attacking Ali fell for 71 in the 15th over.

Such is Bell’s graceful approach at the crease, it hardly looked like the Warwickshire batsman was trailblazing his way to a 102-ball century.

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Ian Bell put his hand up for the England opening job in the World Cup // Getty Images

His effortless lofted drives over the straight fielders made Chris Rogers’s debut as Prime Minister’s XI skipper exceedingly difficult, so much so the he brought himself on (watch Rogers bowl here).

But with only one first-class wicket, Stuart Broad, it was no surprise the veteran failed to take a needed wicket while conceding 18 runs off his two overs.

It wasn’t until Bell passed triple figures that he scored more than two boundaries in an over, but when he broke that duck, he did it four times, taking 15 and 16 runs off Maxwell and Mackin respectively.

Not even a beamer from Canberra-born Jason Behrendorff could halt Bell’s charge, dispatching the next delivery for six over mid-wicket with utter disdain.

Ian Bell hits a six after being struck