Glenn Maxwell Emphasises Importance of Battling Ashwin and Jadeja for Australia’s Success

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Glenn Maxwell believes Australia's performance in the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy hinges on their ability to handle India's top spinners, Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja.

India aims for a third consecutive series win in Australia after notable victories in 2018-19 and 2020-21. Notably, India is the only Asian team to have won a Test series in Australia.

Maxwell highlighted the influence Ashwin and Jadeja have had on matches, stating, "I think that over a long period of time, having played against guys like Ashwin and Jadeja, those two seem to have always been the ones we've faced consistently, and the battles we've had with them have often dictated the outcome of the game," he told Star Sports.

Key Players: Ashwin, Jadeja, and Bumrah

The duo of Ashwin and Jadeja has been formidable, amassing 821 wickets across 330 innings with 50 five-wicket hauls. Maxwell emphasised that neutralising these spinners is crucial for Australia. "If we play well against those two—Ashwin, Jadeja—we'll generally find ourselves in a better position compared to when they've had a field day and run through us," he added.

Maxwell also praised Jasprit Bumrah's growth as an all-format bowler. He described Bumrah as currently the best in the field. "…And probably, more recently, Jasprit Bumrah. I was there in his first year of the IPL in 2013 at Mumbai and pretty much faced him every day in the nets," Maxwell noted.

Australia's Strategy Against Indian Spinners

Maxwell, who last played Test cricket for Australia in 2017, stressed the importance of countering India's senior spinners. He mentioned that Ashwin and Jadeja have been key opponents throughout his career due to their similar age. "Those two guys have been there for most of my career, being of a similar age," he remarked.

Reflecting on Bumrah's journey from a promising young talent to a leading bowler across formats, Maxwell said it's an impressive story. "To see him evolve from a young, untapped talent to what he is now—the probably best bowler across all three formats—is a pretty amazing story," he stated.

Australia's success will largely depend on how effectively they manage Ashwin and Jadeja's spin threat. Their ability to counter these bowlers could determine their standing in the series against India.