Ind v Aus: Maxwell believes Australia is far nearer to matching India than what sequence scoreline suggests

Glenn Maxwell feels Australia was “outstanding” within the first two Tests towards India, barring the one self-destructing session in Delhi on day three.

Australia misplaced 9 wickets for 52 runs in its second innings to squander the benefit it had in the beginning of day three.

“I think they’ve shown a lot of fight. Barring that one session, I thought they were outstanding. It’s bloody difficult over there – it’s not an easy place to play, it’s so foreign for us, but I feel like, apart from a couple of little moments, we’ve been in the fight, we’ve been matching India at different times, and they’ve shown a lot of fight,” Maxwell advised the  Sydney Morning Herald.

Among the present lot, Maxwell is the one one to have scored a Test century in India alongside Steve Smith.

“It’s just sticking it out for a bit longer, and I’m sure that’ll be the message, to keep trying to stay up with India and take hold of those key moments in the game.

“At the start of day three (in Delhi), I thought we were well ahead in the game, and to be ahead of India at any stage of a Test match over there is a sign we’re doing the right things, it’s just doing it for a little bit longer,” he stated.

Maxwell is a part of the ODI squad for the three video games in India starting March 17. He has not performed worldwide cricket since breaking his leg at a celebration in a freak accident final November.

“I’ve been in constant touch with the selectors for a while now, and it probably hasn’t happened as fast as I’d like,” he stated.

“I probably would’ve liked to be playing a little bit earlier, but as I knew the timeline for the one-day side, I was able to manipulate my rehab program to fit that timeline I was racing against,” he stated.

“After the World Cup last year, I was pretty cooked, and it’s never nice to have a break of this magnitude, but it’s also not the worst timing to have a little bit of time away from the game, and I did spend most of it in rehab, physio and gym sessions, but it was a nice little refresher. Hopefully, this will extend a little bit of time at the back end of my career,” he added.