Photo via Hindustan Times

The art of hitting one ball six ways: How Glenn Maxwell's unconventional genius kept opposition bowlers guessing

Glenn Maxwell turned a full-length delivery from Bas de Leede in the 47th over of the Australia‑Netherlands World Cup match into a six, then reversed his stance again two balls later to hit another six off a shorter, slower ball, completing a 40‑ball century – the quickest in men’s ODI World Cup history. His ability to manipulate identical deliveries into different scoring zones has long troubled captains, a skill he honed from schoolyard experiments that forced him to bat left‑handed and later refined by studying players such as Mike Hussey and Adam Gilchrist.

Maxwell’s flair was evident early, notably a 93‑run knock off 46 balls against Zimbabwe in 2014 that featured a reverse slog‑sweep, and he has repeatedly emphasized how his boundary versatility forces opponents to rethink field placements. As he steps away from international cricket at 38, his repertoire of switch‑hits, reverse sweeps and ramps remains a hallmark of modern batting.

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