Glenn Maxwell is experiencing a state of restlessness. He is among four Australian players who have boarded the squad bus for the 35-minute journey to the Windward Cricket Club in the inland parish of St. Phillip. The session is voluntary, and Maxwell is accompanied by Ashton Agar, Marcus Stoinis, and Cameron Green. The current weather conditions consist of a morning sky covered with clouds and occasional periods of rain.
After around 40 minutes of unpredictable weather in Barbados, the mizzle, which had fluctuated between a light drizzle and a moderate spray, had now become a strong downpour. As it happened, just as the improvised ground personnel had successfully erected the improvised center-wicket nets. Maxwell had been wearing his protective gear while standing alongside Agar, anticipating the opportunity to strike a few balls and begin his session. During that period, he occupied himself by engaging in playful interactions with the left-arm spinner, feigning to protect his wicket from the balls being bowled by Agar. However, at present, he had to run at a moderate pace, while protecting his bat from becoming damp, clearly irritated with the fact that he was being forced to wait for an even longer period of time.
Maxwell arrived just one day ago following aircraft delays that prolonged his travel from Australia, where he had spent two days at home, to over 60 hours. After experiencing one of his least successful seasons in the Indian Premier League, the mysterious Australian all-rounder was eagerly anticipating the start of his World Cup campaign. Today is Sunday, June 2nd, which means there are just three days left until Australia’s first match against Oman at the Kensington Oval.
You could hear him urging the ground-crew to promptly remove the covers as soon as the rain ceased, and doing the same to the coaching staff to assist him in getting to the center of the field and successfully make contact with the ball using his bat. Upon arriving, Maxwell promptly endeavored to vigorously strike the ball throughout various areas of the somewhat neglected field. His performance was not consistently successful, since the pitch was slightly sticky and the balls were overly soft due to excessive water presence. In contrast to his partner Cameron Green, who started hitting balls into the wind and sending them towards the grandstand of the clubhouse, as well as the Chattel residences on the western borders of the Oval, from the very first ball he encountered.
Green arrived one day prior to Maxwell. He woke up feeling really happy at the beginning of the day since the luggage he had lost before his journey, the one containing all his cricket equipment, had arrived in time for him to attend every training session without missing any.
According to his account, his expedition took a total of 38 hours to reach this place. One day later, at the 3Ws Oval, Green did not have a long hitting session. He stopped early since he was feeling a bit sore after spending almost 90 minutes showcasing his power-hitting skills at Windward.
However, on Sunday, it was impossible to divert one’s gaze from the imposing Western Australian player as he flawlessly executed numerous powerful shots, assuming dominant postures that he had honed during his training sessions with RCB batting coach Neil McKenzie in the IPL.
Green displayed the menacing demeanor that many had attributed to him when he first emerged a few summers back. Although facing opposition from certain local spinners and instructors armed with sidearms. It was not the specific actions he was performing, but rather the aura he appeared to be generating while holding the bat, reminiscent of his performance in the later part of the IPL. He enthusiastically praised the experience he had on Monday (June 3) at the 3Ws Oval.
“I believe that is the essence of the captivating experiences I have encountered in recent years.” The IPL’s aesthetic appeal. My ability to secure this slot has not always been consistent. However, simultaneously, I am also appreciative of that. I possess the ability to seamlessly adapt to and excel in many roles. That is the location where I envision myself during this event. Perhaps addressing the weaknesses within the team. It is a highly commendable team to be a part of. “No matter where I am told to play, I have a strong sense of self-assurance and a clear understanding that I can perform well in any batting position,” he stated.
Green’s successful adjustment to his new position lower in the batting order and his contributions with the ball were key factors in RCB’s impressive transformation in the IPL. However, the Australian selectors have been cautious in managing Green’s transition from T20 cricket to Test cricket, even going as far as giving him rest from certain T20I series to ensure a smoother adaptation. When questioned about the potential implications of this, Green promptly remarked, “Perhaps in the future, the focus will shift towards selecting or opting for specific games on an individual basis.” You derive immense pleasure from the company of these individuals. It is undesirable to spend an excessive amount of time away from them.
This sentiment appears to encapsulate the essence of the present Australian team. The sense of unity and camaraderie is clearly authentic. The team appears highly cohesive under the guidance of its leadership group, with Mitchell Marsh at the helm in the Caribbean. Every member of the team shares a strong familial relationship and is united in their pursuit of being the first men’s team to achieve a treble or a Grand Slam, which involves holding all three major world titles simultaneously.
Agar vividly depicted the Australian team gathered on the roof of a catamaran on Saturday, relishing the breathtaking view of the sun sinking over the Caribbean Sea.
“While returning last night, we were seated on the roof of the catamaran when Marcus Stoinis, also known as ‘Stoin’, remarked, ‘I wonder if other teams would exhibit the same camaraderie as ours’.” All the boys are gathered on the roof, observing the sunset, while indulging in a beverage and sincerely relishing each other’s presence. It was quite effortless to overlook the fact that you are present for a World Cup.
One might easily be captivated by the relaxed atmosphere and leisurely pace of life in Barbados, known as the Bajan way of life. The pace of life in this island paradise is characterized by a relaxed and unhurried manner. The 24-hour clock can sometimes appear as an insignificant obstacle. With limited time spent as a squad since the conclusion of the New Zealand tour in March, it appeared that the Australian team management had chosen this moment, as Agar stated, to “appreciate the attractions of the Caribbean”.
On Sunday, coach Andrew McDonald playfully encouraged his small group of players to swiftly gather their belongings in order to catch the bus back to the hotel for the initial team meeting prior to the World Cup.
After successfully reestablishing team bonding, Australia held their first comprehensive training session on Monday at the 3Ws Oval, with the attendance of every member of the squad. All 15 reserves have not yet arrived, but they all had a turn batting in the three nets in the center. Matthew Wade was the only one who had an additional session, similar to Steve Smith.
As is typical in T20 net sessions, this particular session primarily focused on powerful hits that sent the balls high into the air or on batters attempting swings and failing, resulting in their stumps being dislodged. During his tenure, Captain Marsh was swiftly knocked down by both Pat Cummins, who delivered numerous cutters, and Mitchell Starc, who bowled with great speed and accuracy. Similarly, David Warner was also challenged by deliveries that skidded over the surface in the distant net, while Wade faced Adam Zampa in the nets. The atmosphere was vibrant and energetic, characterized by spirited conversations and enthusiastic praise for the impressive power-hitting abilities of their colleagues.
Maxwell appeared to be somewhat more proficient on Monday. Similarly, Stoinis, together with Tim David, performed an impressive exhibition of hitting sixes to a group of approximately 50-60 school pupils who were seated comfortably on the grandstand above the Floyd Reifer Pavilion. The show exhibited a certain level of contempt as the two powerful batsmen in the middle-order of the Australian team dominated the net bowlers and even some of their own teammates. DeShawn Williams, a talented young local left-arm spinner, stood out by performing exceptionally well against the majority of the world-class batsmen in the Australian team.
Travis Head, who had also recently landed in the Caribbean, was one of the last to arrive to the scene. Despite experiencing declining returns in his otherwise impressive return to the IPL, he displayed his destructive prowess as soon as he marked his guard. The session likely lasted approximately 25 minutes, and it may have appeared as if Head was wearing the orange Sunrisers shirt instead of the Australian training outfit. Travis Head, the trendsetter of the first half of the IPL, was in full form. The South Australian likely received the highest number of acknowledgements for his exceptional performance in the practice sessions. Similar to his performance in the IPL, his exceptional management of the spinners on the sluggish and exhausting wickets at 3Ws Oval was particularly noteworthy. Particularly in his tendency to be passive and play defensive shots by hitting the ball from the back foot.
A notable development for the Australian team was the sight, towards the end of the practice, of Marsh preparing himself to bowl a few deliveries, then later returning to bowl a complete spell from his usual run-up. This was his inaugural attempt after his arrival in the West Indies.
Despite the sweltering and humid weather on the University of West Indies campus in Barbados, the laughing and enthusiasm persisted throughout the three-hour event. Whether it was the moment McDonald narrowly avoided being hit by a ball in a hazardous area, as it was swiftly returned to him by David at a rapid pace, or when David boasted about inventing a novel technique to confuse Warner, the atmosphere was filled with intense excitement. Even as they packed up and loaded their equipment into the mini-van, accompanied by soca music playing in the background, the energy remained palpable. The majority of individuals will choose to take Tuesday (June 4) as a day off, despite the existence of an additional optional session that has been planned. However, they will commence their pursuit of the triple crown with the identical vigor they exhibited during their training session on Monday, when they face Oman.
Marsh and his colleagues appear enthusiastic and eager to gain more from this vacation than merely the attractions of the Caribbean.
