Make some noise about Maxwell

IT SEEMS to be slipping by quietly that this region could soon be home to one of the brightest sporting stars in the country.
Slowly but surely, Belgrave-raised Australian cricketer Glenn Maxwell is taking the next step to becoming one of the most potent all-rounders in world cricket.
Only weeks after taking home the Twenty20 player of the year award at the Alan Border Medal, Maxwell’s century against Sri Lanka last weekend showed his new maturity could be a factor at this year’s World Cup.
While it’s fair to say he didn’t take much time to get his eye in, and while there were plenty of his trademark reverse sweeps, there was method to the way he attacked the bowlers.
Simply, he crunched the ball to where the fielders weren’t.
This is a luxury only afforded by those who have an elite game.
Maxwell played his junior cricket for South Belgrave, where he no doubt learnt his trade from many fine cricketing mentors in the hills.
Also, Maxwell seems to have retained a close affinity with the region.
Up until only a few years ago, Maxwell was still living with his parents in South Belgrave, despite a million-dollar contract in the Indian Premier League.
Of course, this was probably due to the fact he was travelling the globe extensively with his cricket.
Nevertheless, he is still the pride of the Ferntree Gully and District Cricket Association.
Maxwell’s journey to superstardom seems to be following the path of fellow hyperactive batsman, David Warner.
Like Maxwell, Warner burst onto the international scene through some whirlwind batting displays in Twenty20 cricket.
Then, it wasn’t long before he became more than a one-hit wonder, establishing himself in the one-day and then Test teams.
The region should be right behind Maxwell in the remaining weeks of the World Cup.
Who knows, maybe if Australia achieves World Cup glory once again, we might see a visit from Maxwell and the Cup to this region?