‘A lot needs to go right’: Glenn Maxwell, Steve Smith don’t believe 400-odd totals will become the norm in ODIs | Cricket-world-cup News

Australia may have put in a performance of all-round domination to dismantle the Netherlands in their World Cup game on Wednesday, but their star batsmen still believe that 400-odd totals in ODI cricket remain an exception, not the norm.The former world champions put up a mammoth total of 399 and took 10 wickets for just 90 runs to record an impressive win in New Delhi.
While much is made of the increasing influence of T20 cricket on the 50-over game, with middle-order collapses and huge totals both occurring with more frequency, Glenn Maxwell and Steve Smith said that conditions, opposition bowling, and a fortunate day with the bat all play a role in getting to the 400-run mark in 50 overs.
Smith asserted after the game that Wednesday’s high score was enabled the top order doing their job, playing the middle overs well and building a base for those coming later to “have a smack at the back-end of the innings,” but said it’s only possible on the occasion that the pitch supports the batsmen.

“It’s always wicket-dependent. To try and get 400 on the pitch we played on in Chennai in the first match against India would be unrealic – probably would’ve been bowled out at 150. So we have to assess the conditions,” he said after the match.
Maxwell was the pick of the Australia batsmen, making the fastest century in ODI World Cup hory with his 44-ball 106. But he was one of two centurions, as David Warner made a sixth World Cup ton, and both Smith and Marnus Labuschagne regered 71 and 62 respectively.
Adding to Smith’s point, he said it takes a lot more than just a good wicket to get to 400. “There’s still a lot of things (other than the surface) that need to go right to get 400,” Maxwell said in his post-match press conference. “There still needs to be a platform, there still needs to be solid intent through the middle overs, and then you need a sensational finish. Like you need to be powerful at the back end.”
Maxwell stole the record from Aiden Markram, who made a 49-ball ton just a few weeks ago at the same pitch as South Africa pummelling their way to 428 against Sri Lanka at the same venue.Most Read
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“South Africa, when they got their 420 here, they had – was it three blokes getting hundreds? And even then it took something brilliant from Markram to come out and pump it around after a long partnership which is sometimes not easy to do,” Maxwell said.

“A big partnership is sometimes really hard to bat after in one-day cricket because you’re expected to keep that momentum, but he did it beautifully,” he added.
Records on my mind: Maxwell
As Maxwell unleashed carnage from both ends at the death of Australia’s innings, going from 14 in the 42nd over to 100 in the 49th, he had one eye on the number of balls he faced on the scoreboard in chasing the world records that have motivated him throughout his career.

“I’m very aware of them (records). I’m very aware of balls faced. I love the fastest 50, fastest 100 records. I think they’re pretty cool records. Sometimes to the detriment of myself, I’ve always probably pushed the boundaries a bit too much,” he said.

“So, it was I’ve been in those positions before I could make fast hundreds when I get on the run, I know I’m difficult to bowl to. Just about getting past the first ball,” he said with a smile.