Melbourne Stars captain Glenn Maxwell has shattered the record books with an “outrageous” batting performance at the MCG.
Australian cricketer Glenn Maxwell has made history with the largest individual score in the Big Bash League, cracking 154 off 64 balls against the Hobart Hurricanes on Wednesday evening.
The Melbourne Stars captain brought up his century in just 41 deliveries at the MCG, helping his side shatter the all-time Big Bash record for largest team score.
Celebrating his 100th BBL match, Maxwell narrowly fell short of breaking the record for fastest Big Bash century, a 39-ball ton from Perth Scorchers opener Craig Simmons in January 2014.
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But he wasn’t done there, continuing his brutal onslaught of the Hurricanes bowling attack to become the first cricketer to reach 150 in a BBL innings.
It was a vintage Maxwell masterclass, validating his “Big Show” moniker. The 33-year-old was finding the boundary rope with ease, regardless of what absurd stroke he attempted.
Maxwell, who recently suffered a bout of Covid-19, had earlier brought up his half-century in just 20 deliveries, making it the quickest of his career. He also broke the record for most boundaries in a T20 innings with 22, the previous best being 20.
“He’s truly box office, to turn it on like this, you cannot look away,” former Australian wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist said on Fox Cricket.
“Whenever he’s at the crease you just do not want to miss a delivery.
“What a thrill to witness that. You always know there’s something exciting happening around Glenn Maxwell.”
New South Wales paceman and Channel 7 presenter Trent Copeland tweeted: “That is just flat out ridiculous striking. Thank god I don’t have ball in hand.”
Fox Sports presenter Kath Loughnan posted: “One way to jazz up a dead rubber. What a freak.”
The Evening Standard’s Will Macpherson tweeted: “Genuine abuse of Hobart Hurricanes from Glenn Maxwell atm.”
Fastest centuries in the Big Bash League
39 balls — Craig Simmons vs AS, Jan 2014
41 balls — Glenn Maxwell vs HH, Jan 2022
44 balls — Luke Wright vs HH, Jan 2012
47 balls – Ben McDermott vs MR, Jan 2017
48 balls – Callum Ferguson vs PS, Jan 2019
48 balls – Matthew Wade vs AS, Jan 2020
The previous highest individual score in Big Bash history was an unbeaten 147 by Stars teammate Marcus Stoinis in January 2020 — and it seemed apt that he was at the other end for the majority of Maxwell’s record-breaking innings.
Stoinis complimented his skipper beautiful, smashing 75 not out off 31 balls to help the Stars register a mind-boggling team total of 2/273 — which was also comfortably a Big Bash record.
It was the third-largest team total in any professional T20 cricket match in history, falling five runs short of the all-time record set by Afghanistan in February 2019.
The powerful 32-year-old struck six sixes and four fours, showing no respect for the hapless Hurricanes bowlers.
Unfortunately for the Stars, Wednesday’s T20 contest was branded a dead rubber as the men in green could not qualify for the finals series irrespective of the result.
But Maxwell’s stunning knock has given Stars fans something to cheer after a tumultuous summer for the Melbourne-based franchise.
“A lot of things have to go right for something like that to happen,” Maxwell told Channel 7.
“I had great support the whole way through … it’s still a nice feeling to finish this tournament with a really nice innings.”
Highest individual scores in Big Bash League history
154* — Glenn Maxwell vs HH, Jan 2022
147* — Marcus Stoinis vs SS, Jan 2020
130* — Matthew Wade vs AS, Jan 2020
127 — Ben McDermott vs MR, Dec 2021
122* — D’Arcy Short vs BH, Jan 2018
This was not Maxwell’s first century of the tournament — the T20 World Cup champion belted 103 from only 57 balls against the Sydney Sixers in December, with the Stars suffering a seven-wicket defeat.
Maxwell also becomes just the second cricketer to score multiple centuries in a Big Bash tournament, joining Hurricanes gloveman Ben McDermott.
“He’s a freak it’s as simple as that,” former England captain Michael Vaughn said on Fox Cricket.
“He makes bowler’s shiver with the shots he can play, the power, skill levels. Pure entertainer.”
Over on Channel 7’s coverage, former Australian batter Brad Hodge tore the “dreadful” Hurricanes to shreds — none of the club’s eight bowlers conceded less than 10 runs per over.
“What it was, it was a perfect marriage. It was a perfect marriage of ball-striking mixed with horrible bowling from the Hobart Hurricanes,” he said.
“They were dreadful. You know what, class punished them tonight. They got what they deserved.”
Largest team totals in the Big Bash League
273/2 — Melbourne Stars vs HH, Jan 2022
232/5 — Sydney Thunder vs SS, Jan 2021
223/8 — Hobart Hurricanes vs MR, Jan 2017
222/4 — Melbourne Renegades vs HH, Jan 2017
The Hurricanes ultimately suffered a 106-run defeat, with the men in purple mustering just 6/167 from their 20 overs in response.
McDermott top-scored for the Hurricanes with 55 off 33 balls, pushing him up to sixth spot on the all-time ladder for most runs in a BBL series.
The Hurricanes will next face the Adelaide Strikers in The Eliminator at the MCG on Friday evening.
Originally published as Melbourne Stars captain Glenn Maxwell shatters Big Bash record books
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