'Why I opened the batting with Maxi'

It's been almost four years, but former Australia allrounder Shane Watson has revealed the thinking behind the decision to promote Glenn Maxwell to open the innings in a Test in India.

Australia trailed the fourth Test of the 2013 tour of India in Delhi by 10 runs on a pitch that was biting, spitting, turning and spinning from day one and only got worse as the match unfolded.

In an ultra-aggressive move, Watson – in his first and only Test as captain after Michael Clarke had returned home with injury – decided to shift Maxwell up five places to partner David Warner at the top of the order and blast away at the new ball.

While the surprise move backfired – Maxwell was out bowled for eight – Watson says it was a ploy to take the diabolical pitch out of the occasion on a fateful tour that shared a number of characteristics with the Delhi track.

"That was one of the worst Test wickets I ever played on," Watson told The Unplayable Podcast. "Even with the fast bowlers, balls were taking off.

"I remember one ball took off from a length and hit Phil Hughes and balls were turning and bouncing out of the fresh parts of the wickets.

"Their batters struggled on that wicket as well.

Quick Single: Follow India's example: Maxwell

"Our thought was to try and be able, with a brand new ball, get someone out there who can really take on the game.

"It didn't pay off but it was a thought process to just get someone out there and put the bowlers under pressure, which as soon as Glenn Maxwell walks out the bowlers know he can turn the game immediately."

Australia were bowled out for 164, lost the Test by six wickets and the disastrous tour 4-0 in what would be the last Test series coached by Mickey Arthur.

Maxwell made his debut in that series and returns to the subcontinent this month for Australia's four-Test tour starting in Pune on February 23.

While the 28-year-old has played just one Test since – batting at No.3 in Abu Dhabi in October 2014 – Maxwell could add to his three matches in the Baggy Green should the selectors feel the need of a spin-bowling allrounder in the starting XI.

It would be highly unlikely, almost unthinkable, that Maxwell would open the innings again if recalled, instead he would occupy the troubled No.6 position reserved for the team's allrounder.

On his day, the Victorian is one of the most destructive batsmen in the world, as displayed in his whirlwind Twenty20 half-century in Sri Lanka last winter, and if selected that's how Watson wants to see Maxwell go about his business.

"I just want Maxi to play the way he does when he's at his best," Watson said.

"He's got an incredible skill to hit the ball where the fielders aren't, and that's both sides of the wicket, whether that's reverse sweeps, (picking) a spot and hitting over cover, hitting over mid-wicket.

"He's got great skill to be able to play with a bowler when he's on.

"In the end he should definitely do that in Test cricket as well.

"People don't realise how much success Glenn Maxwell has had in Shield cricket as well.

"He's scored a lot of runs and turned games for the Victorians regularly when he's played.

"You can never take that for granted, that he's a really skilled and smart cricketer hitting balls in (open) areas even in four-day and Test cricket.

"He certainly provides a huge x-factor and there's no doubt once he gets an opportunity, especially with a (strong) batting order around him where he can play with total freedom he will turn games on their head pretty quickly."

Before Maxwell heads to India for the Test series he and his Australian teammates will meet in Dubai for a pre-tour training camp where Watson will be based for the Pakistan Super League.

 

Image Id: 571A62B7AABE464FA2DE4DCE02A4A464 Image Caption: Watson is behind the Let's Activate initiative for children // cricket.com.au

 

Watson left for the UAE on Friday to join his side Islamabad United after launching his new children's health initiative, Let's Activate.

Let's Activate is the brainchild of Watson and his wife Lee, and with the help of former Yellow Wiggle Greg Page, they've created a program that uses music to help children aged 2-6 learn fundamental body movement.

"The sports clinic are really just learning how to move and sport movements via music," Watson told The Unplayable Podcast.

"Greg's written songs to learn how to throw … kick a ball, catch, hit a ball.

"It's a cross-section of all sports skills and movements. There'll be a bit ore of cricket in there, basic cricket movements, but it's going to cover all different sports, whether it's boys or girls.

"To be able to integrate songs and music into our clinics I think it's a perfect fit for kids to learn how to move indirectly through music."

To learn more about Let's Activate, visit the website letsactivate.net