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Confident Maxwell feels better than ever

Glenn Maxwell believes his World Cup run total is not reflective of his current touch with bat in hand

Glenn Maxwell insists he's not out of form, just out of runs, declaring he's never felt better with bat in hand as Australia approach the pointy end of their sixth World Cup title tilt.

With the reigning champions' top-order dominance largely consigning him to late-innings cameos, Maxwell has faced just 75 balls but spanked 143 runs at a tournament-leading strike-rate of 190.66.

The right-hander has admittedly passed up opportunities against West Indies, Pakistan and then New Zealand on Saturday to put together a more substantial innings, but he says he isn't stressing about not yet putting together a big score.

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"I feel like I haven't hit the ball better in my career, I just haven't got runs," the right-hander, whose highest score is the unbeaten 46 he hit against Sri Lanka, told reporters in Manchester ahead of Australia's final group game against South Africa on Saturday.

"It's nice to be relaxed when I go out in the middle. Runs just haven't come the way I would have liked, but I don't think they're far away.

"If I was out of form and out of runs, I think I'd be a little more nervous.

"It's about not over-complicating it and not reinventing the wheel at training. I've stuck to the way I've gone about my training … and making sure you're not clouding your head even further."

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The 30-year-old admits his calm outlook on his own performance has been something he's had to develop over time.

Maxwell spent time out of the ODI team in the years after his successful 324-run 2015 World Cup campaign, but believes he's benefited from earning the faith of selectors in the lead-in to this edition of the tournament.

"It is a bit of maturity and growth and trust in my preparation. I think I would have been searching for something a couple of years ago, whereas now when I go out to bat I have been doing the right things and training the right way," said Maxwell.


Image Id: 3F7681B2AA574707B6FDB44B60A69E4C Image Caption: A solid training regime has Maxwell taking a more relaxed approach to his time in the middle // Getty

"To trust going in without a lot of runs behind you does take a few years to learn from that and grow from that.

"You might not get the time out in the middle like the top order does.

"But when you go get out there you've got to make the most of it. To have the faith the selectors have had in me to be here and be the sole spinning allrounder in the squad is nice."

While a hayfever-induced sneezing fit at training on Wednesday masked it, Maxwell may be in fact the most familiar of all the Australians with the western foothills of the Pennines.

He spurned the lure of a lucrative Indian Premier League stint earlier this year to instead play for Lancashire, the county side that owns Old Trafford.


Image Id: DAC5325A7CF44035B06452E35BE9A2D7 Image Caption: Maxwell hits out during a limited overs match for Lancshire in April // Getty

"What a place Manchester is," said Maxwell. "Having that month here, getting used to conditions, getting my technique right for these conditions has been a great benefit for me.

"I'm hoping to cash in at the right time of the tournament."

Australia, having already guaranteed themselves top-four berth, can sew up top spot by defeating the Proteas and ensure they play their semi-final at the same venue.

Maxwell conceded staying in Manchester would be a major mental (and logistical) boost for the Aussies, having earlier in the tournament travelled 700 kilometres and played four games in a gruelling nine-day stretch.

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"I would love to stay here. The incentive to finish top would be great," said Maxwell. "To get as much time as you can in one place, you don't have to pack your bags again.

"It feels like we did a lot of that early on in the tournament. We had four games in nine days at one stage where it was pack, unpack, pack, unpack - repeatedly.

"To not have that at this end of the tournament would be nice."

2019 World Cup

Australia's squad: Aaron Finch (c), Jason Behrendorff, Alex Carey (wk), Nathan Coulter-Nile, Pat Cummins, Usman Khawaja, Nathan Lyon, Shaun Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Kane Richardson, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, David Warner, Adam Zampa

June 1: Australia beat Afghanistan by seven wickets

June 6: Australia beat West Indies by 15 runs

June 9: Australia lost to India by 36 runs

June 12: Australia beat Pakistan by 41 runs

June 15: Australia beat Sri Lanka by 87 runs

June 20: Australia beat Bangladesh by 48 runs

June 25: Australia beat England by 64 runs

June 29: Australia beat New Zealand by 86 runs

July 6: Australia v South Africa, Old Trafford (D/N)

July 9: Semi-Final 1, Old Trafford

July 11: Semi-Final 2, Edgbaston

July 14: Final, Lord's

Sync Australia's World Cup schedule to your calendar HERE

For a full list of all World Cup fixtures, click HERE