Pain in rain no crisis for Aussies: Maxwell

Glenn Maxwell insists Australia will continue using the confidence gained from last summer's strong home T20I form as they prepare to face India in the upcoming three-match series, as opposed to dwelling on recent defeats to Pakistan and last night's one-off 'T10' loss to South Africa.

Australia were soundly beaten by the Proteas in the rain-marred fixture on the Gold Coast that was reduced to 10 overs per side, with Maxwell's all-round contributions the lone highlight for the hosts.

The Victorian was out for 38 from the final ball of Australia's run chase, which ultimately fell 21 runs short of the 109 target, while his cameo with the ball (1-14 from two overs) shifted the momentum of the Proteas innings. He also took two catches, one a spectacular juggling effort on the boundary that removed South Africa's captain and top scorer, Faf du Plessis.

In the end, it all mattered little, as the Aussies surrendered the match – their fourth-straight in the format after losing three-nil to Pakistan last month in the UAE – and gave de Plessis' side a limited-overs double after their 2-1 series win in the Gillette ODIs.

With number two ranked India their next opponent across three T20Is, beginning Wednesday night at the Gabba in Brisbane, Maxwell said spirits remained positive within the playing group.

"It was disappointing. We came here excited about starting the T20 summer and kicking off with a bang, especially after the way we played T20 cricket last summer at home," he said. "So I think that's what had us really excited, and unfortunately in such a short game a lot can go wrong and right for certain teams."

After a prolonged period of mediocrity in the T20 format, Australia hit their straps last summer, beating England and New Zealand in a tri-series tournament that was hosted on both sides of the Tasman.

It elevated them to within striking distance of the number one T20I ranking, which they were unable to wrestle from Pakistan in clashes with the top-ranked nation in both Zimbabwe and the Emirates.

Those defeats pushed them to third in the rankings, while their next opponents, India, sit second.

Maxwell, who was instrumental in last summer's successes and who remains the world's top-ranked T20 allrounder, felt preparations had been more than adequate.

"It's certainly frustrating. It feels like we're doing all the right things in practice, feels like we're training the right way," he added.

"But the results aren't quite going our way. The little things just seem to go against you, and it can be a harsh game sometimes when the momentum is against you.

"We'll regroup and keep preparing the way we have been. I think we've been preparing very well.

"I think (coach Justin Langer will) be pretty optimistic about going forward. It's a hard game to judge when it's such a short amount of time."

Gillette T20s v South Africa and India

Gillette T20s v South Africa 

November 17: South Africa defeated Australia by 21 runs on the Gold Coast

Gillette T20s v India

November 21: The Gabba

November 23: MCG

November 25: SCG

Australia T20 squad: Aaron Finch (c), Alex Carey, Ashton Agar, Jason Behrendorff, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Chris Lynn, Glenn Maxwell, Ben McDermott, D'Arcy Short, Billy Stanlake, Marcus Stoinis, Andrew Tye, Adam Zampa.

South Africa T20 squad: Faf du Plessis (c), Farhaan Behardien, Quinton de Kock, Reeza Hendricks, Imran Tahir, Heinrich Klaasen, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Chris Morris, Lungi Ngidi, Andile Phehlukwayo, Dwaine Pretorius, Kagiso Rabada, Tabraiz Shamsi.

India T20 squad: Virat Kohli (c), Rohit Sharma (vc), Shikhar Dhawan, KL Rahul, Shreyas Iyer, Manish Pandey, Dinesh Karthik, Rishabh Pant (wk), Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Washington Sundar, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah, Umesh Yadav, Khaleel Ahmed.