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Poised Maxwell preaches control

Glenn Maxwell reflects on his evolving role in Australia's batting order ahead of the second ODI in Cardiff

It's not a word popularly associated with Glenn Maxwell but the enigmatic batsman was preaching "control" as the key to Australia bouncing back in Saturday's second ODI against England in Cardiff.

Maxwell turned around a sub-standard IPL season and poor returns in Australia's two one-day practice matches against county opposition with a knock of 62 from 64 balls in the opening ODI at The Oval.

It was Australia's highest score by far (Ashton Agar's 40 was the next best), but the visitors scored just 214 and England chased down with six overs to spare to take a 1-0 lead in the five-match series.

Australia held back Maxwell to bat at No.6 because they thought he could control those middle and later overs better, but came in at 4-70 in the 17th over anyway. He responded with his first half-century for Australia's ODI side in 18 months.

"We just have to control those overs straight after the Power Play a little bit better," Maxwell said.

"Even in the practice games, from overs 10 to 15 or 20, there was a little bit of a stall in the game, spin was able to make its way in to the game and have an effect against us.

"When we are playing well we are able to put a little bit of pressure on – not play reckless cricket - but put them under a little bit of pressure to bring the quicks back on, or just a change of bowling.

"The disappointing thing about (the first ODI) there was a really good opportunity there, I went out with 13 overs left, I could have controlled the back end of the innings."

Match wrap: England spin to first ODI win

Maxwell had been in ominous touch, with four fours and two sixes. Twenty runs in boundaries had come in a six-ball period around the 27th over, and he seemed set for a third six when flicking Liam Plunkett towards deep square leg off the front foot, only for the ball to find Jonny Bairstow on the fence.

"Unfortunately, when you are in good nick you can time one a little bit too well and sometimes it can go against you like that," said Maxwell. "You take the risk when you hit the ball in the air and if you keep it on the carpet you can’t get caught."

Risk and reward is a growing part of Maxwell's game. Ponting, who has a close connection with Maxwell and has taken on a mentoring role, said he may be at his best when Australia's back is against the wall.

Now one of the most experienced players in a young squad Maxwell can see his role evolving from counter-attacking puncher to innings anchor, and being able to consistently switch between the two could be key to Australia's success.

"If you look back over the past three or four years there's been a lot of times when I've come out and we've been three or four down for less than 60 or 70 runs," Maxwell said.

"Myself and George Bailey used to put on big partnerships for us. I used to love that role.

"Previously it was more of a counter-attack and being able to put the pressure back on the opposition and take the pressure off my partner.

"(At The Oval) we lost Marcus Stoinis and it was down to myself and Ashton Agar to bat time and at least have some sort of ammunition come the last couple of overs.

"But I got out just at a time where (Adil) Rashid was about to come back on and bowl a couple more overs and that could have been the time to go.

"The timing wasn't great but the planning was a lot different from what I batted previously."

Ponting impressed with new regime under Langer

Maxwell has put that substandard IPL behind him, putting his trust in his preparation and keeping faith that consistency there will lead to results.

"The thing with the IPL, I was disappointed in my runs output but I wasn't disappointed with how I was hitting the ball," he said of a season with the Delhi Daredevils where he scored 169 runs in 12 matches at just 14.08.

"I wasn't too concerned with my form. All I saw was I was training well, preparing well, doing all the right things. Sometimes you just don't get the opportunities when the time is right for your form.

"As soon as I came back into the Australian side I had two really good practice games, was 50 not out in both of those against our attack, and I felt really good coming over here.

"I just kept backing that preparation and kept training really well. That consistency of training is hopefully going to lead to more consistent performances through that middle order for us.

"I'm one of the more experienced players these days and it's going to be really meaningful if more of our experienced players stand up when it counts. Hopefully there are more innings of substance like at The Oval."

This ODI squad is largely similar to the team that won the T20 tri-series title against England and New Zealand late last summer, and that success and a new focus on togetherness and professional in the Australian camp has been the genesis for tight-knit group.

"A lot of the guys played together in the T20 series before the IPL. That's helped the feel of the group; there was that feel of success, that feel of 'We can win with this group' and there hasn't been a whole lot of changes since," reflected Maxwell.

"To keep the core group together with only a couple of additions and subtractions, I feel like we've still got a really good team that can compete and win at this level."

The second ODI against England will be played at Sophia Gardens in Cardiff. Channel Nine's pre-game show, featuring David Warner, begins at 7.30pm with the match starting at 8pm AEST.

Qantas tours of England and Zimbabwe

ODI squad: Tim Paine (c), Aaron Finch (vc), Ashton Agar, Alex Carey, Travis Head, Nathan Lyon, Glenn Maxwell, Shaun Marsh, Michael Neser, Jhye Richardson, Kane Richardson, D’Arcy Short, Billy Stanlake, Marcus Stoinis, Andrew Tye

England ODI squad: Eoin Morgan (c), Moeen Ali, Jonny Bairstow, Jake Ball, Sam Billings, Jos Buttler, Tom Curran, Alex Hales, Liam Plunkett, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Jason Roy, Ben Stokes (injured), David Willey, Chris Woakes (injured), Mark Wood

T20 squad: Aaron Finch (c), Alex Carey (vc), Ashton Agar, Travis Head, Nic Maddinson, Glenn Maxwell, Jhye Richardson, Kane Richardson, D’Arcy Short, Billy Stanlake, Marcus Stoinis, Mitchell Swepson, Andrew Tye, Jack Wildermuth

Qantas Tour of England

June 7: Australia beat Sussex by 57 runs at Hove

June 9: Australia beat Middlesex by 101 runs at Lord's

June 13: England won by three wickets at The Oval

June 16: Second ODI, Cardiff

June 19: Third ODI, Trent Bridge (D/N)

June 21: Fourth ODI, Durham (D/N)

June 24: Fifth ODI, Old Trafford

June 27: Only T20, Edgbaston (D/N)

Qantas T20I tri-series Tour of Zimbabwe

July 1: Zimbabwe vs Pakistan

July 2: Pakistan vs Australia

July 3: Australia vs Zimbabwe

July 4: Zimbabwe vs Pakistan

July 5: Pakistan vs Australia

July 6: Australia vs Zimbabwe

July 8: Final