Historical retrospectives
Historical · 2023
The Miracle in Mumbai: Glenn Maxwell's 201*
Battling severe cramps and a collapsing batting order, Glenn Maxwell hit a superhuman 201 not out to rescue Australia from 91/7 and complete one of the greatest run chases in World Cup history.
Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai, November 7, 2023. Australia were staring into the abyss. Chasing Afghanistan's 292, the five-time champions had sensationally collapsed to 91 for 7. Afghanistan’s bowling attack was running riot, and the crowd sensed a historic upset. Enter Glenn Maxwell, stepping out to the crease to orchestrate what would become arguably the greatest individual innings in the history of One Day International cricket.
At first, Maxwell needed a stroke of luck—surviving an overturned LBW call and a dropped catch at short fine leg. But what transformed his innings from a brilliant counter-attack into a mythological epic was the dramatic failure of his own body. Shortly after bringing up his century, Maxwell was struck by severe, full-body cramps. At times, he lay flat on his back, writhing in agony, entirely unable to walk, let alone sprint between the wickets. Spinner Adam Zampa stood by the boundary ropes, fully geared up, waiting for Maxwell to retire hurt. Instead, Maxwell waved him away.
What followed was a breathtaking display of sheer willpower and hand-eye coordination. Completely stripped of footwork, Maxwell turned into a stationary ball-striking machine. Operating entirely from his crease, he used pure upper-body strength to muscle the ball into the stands. He reverse-swept, flicked, and drove his way through the Afghan attack, hitting 21 fours and 10 towering sixes. At the other end stood captain Pat Cummins, who played the ultimate supporting role, contributing just 12 runs off 68 balls in an astonishing 202-run unbroken partnership.
The climax was pure cinema. Needing five runs to win the match and five runs to reach a double-century, Maxwell launched a monstrous six over deep mid-wicket. He finished on 201 not out off 128 deliveries. It was the first-ever double century in an ODI run chase and the highest individual score by an Australian. For younger fans looking back, Maxwell’s 201* is the ultimate testament to the phrase "never give up." It wasn’t just a masterclass in power-hitting; it was a superhuman defiance of physical limits that single-handedly dragged Australia into the semi-finals.
Historical · 2023
The Miracle at Wankhede: Glenn Maxwell's 201*
Battling crippling full-body cramps, Glenn Maxwell scored an impossible unbeaten 201 to rescue Australia from 91/7 and pull off the greatest chase in ODI history against Afghanistan.
The air in Mumbai's Wankhede Stadium hung thick and heavy on the evening of November 7, 2023. Afghanistan, the tournament's undisputed giant-slayers, had posted a formidable 291 and systematically dismantled the Australian top order under the stadium lights. When Mitchell Starc departed in the 19th over, Australia was reeling at 91 for 7. Statistical models gave the Aussies a mere 0.2% chance of winning. A historic Afghan upset felt entirely inevitable.
Then came the miracle.
Glenn Maxwell, batting at number six, dug in alongside captain Pat Cummins. What started as a desperate salvage operation slowly morphed into an exhibition of pure, unadulterated willpower. As Maxwell crossed his century, the humid Mumbai evening began to take a brutal toll. Severe, full-body cramps seized his legs, back, and arms. By the 40th over, he was physically unable to run or even move his feet. He collapsed onto the pitch multiple times, writhing in agony as physiotherapists scrambled onto the field. Adam Zampa stood anxiously by the boundary ropes, fully padded up and ready to sub in.
But Maxwell refused to leave the crease.
Relying entirely on hand-eye coordination, brute core strength, and sheer defiance, he essentially batted on one leg. Unable to take singles, the strategy became incredibly simple: hit boundaries or nothing. He reverse-paddled, swept, and launched the ball into the stands with zero footwork, defying every fundamental law of batting mechanics.
At the other end, Cummins played the ultimate supporting role, scoring a stoic 12 runs off 68 balls, simply surviving to give Maxwell the strike. The climax arrived in the 47th over when Maxwell launched Mujeeb Ur Rahman for his tenth six, sealing the victory and bringing up his double century—an unbeaten 201 off just 128 balls.
It was the first double century by a non-opener in ODI history, the highest individual score in a World Cup chase, and the innings that secured Australia's path to eventual tournament glory. For fans who witnessed it, Maxwell's 201* wasn't just a cricket knock; it was a testament to the absolute limits of human endurance. It remains, without question, the greatest One Day International innings ever played.