The real Glenn Maxwell just stood up

Glenn Maxwell says he is fighting a constant battle to change public perception about his ability as a player, adding recent criticisms have hurt more than those from previous years.

Maxwell produced one of his best performances at international level on Sunday, steering Australia in a perfectly-timed pursuit of 296 that secured a unassailable 3-0 lead in the Victoria Bitter ODI series against India.

The allrounder was at his unorthodox best at times despite the size of the run chase, his tally of eight fours and three sixes including a trademark reverse sweep for four and some powerful lofted shots off the quicks back down the ground and into the stands.

Having carried the moniker of 'The Big Show' throughout the early part of his career and being renowned more for his audacious stroke play than any performances of substance, Maxwell has often been tagged as a player more interested in entertaining than producing big scores for his country.

And despite averaging more than 50 in one-day international cricket over the past 12 months, a streak that included a triumphant World Cup campaign, Maxwell believes he has a long road ahead to shake his reputation as a slogger.

"It's going to be a slow grind and I'm going to have to change a lot of people's perceptions about how I'm seen," he said after hitting 96 from 83 balls at the MCG.

"I'm hoping with some more innings like that people might start to forget about the stupid nicknames and that sort of thing and the hype and the trick shots.

"It's something I'm trying to change and it's something I'm really working on."

An international star in limited-overs cricket, Maxwell's ultimate aim is to add to the three Test matches he played between 2013 and 2014.

Watch: Maxi speaks post match

Having missed a chance when he was selected for Australia's Test tour to Bangladesh in October that was ultimately postponed, he returned to Sheffield Shield cricket with Victoria and averaged 50 with the bat from the first five matches of the season.

But despite improved performances at first-class level, and some match-winning knocks on the international stage, the 27-year-old says he is yet to win over everyone in the court of public opinion.

"It's probably more difficult just in the street and in public when people yell something out," he said.

"It's something I've probably dealt with a lot better early on than more recently, when I feel like I've made big strides and played well in Shield cricket.

"I feel like I've done some good things in first-class cricket and I still can't shake it and I think that's more when it hurts and it gets to you.

"But it's not going to be an overnight thing. It's going to be a long process to show that I'm ready for the longer version and hopefully in the next few years I can really show that and find a way back into the Test team."

Watch: MCG ODI match wrap

While Maxwell's unorthodox tactics are divisive, it's difficult to question his recent record in the 50-over game, which included a maiden international century during the World Cup last year.

His ability to manipulate the field and wreak havoc with a bowling side's tactics was on full display on Sunday night when he reverse swept Ravendra Jadeja to the point boundary from just the 10th ball he faced.

And he says that despite popular belief, his game is not about style over substance.

"I have areas that I want to hit the ball (to) and I think it's pretty obvious on the field where I try to hit the ball," he said. "I haven't really worried about how I look in trying to hit the ball there.

"I think people get caught up in attractive batting, good looking shots with balls getting hit to the fielder.

"I've always thought that it doesn't matter how it looks, as long as you get it to the fence. I don't look to be an attractive batsman. I just always try and get the job done.

"It's probably one of the things I've failed to do in the past few years. I've scored quickly and scored a few runs in ODI cricket, but haven't got the job done.

"But tonight was a big step forward."