Glenn Maxwell has taken aim at online abusers after Royal Challengers’ run at the Indian Premier League came to an abrupt stop in the finals, leaving Josh Hazlewood, Steve Smith and Marcus Stoinis as the last Australians remaining in the tournament.
Hazlewood has played a leading hand ahead of the T20 World Cup, helping his Chennai Super Kings advance to the IPL final on October 16, just one week before Australia’s World Cup opener on October 23.
The fast bowler has snared nine wickets in eight games, having travelled to the United Arab Emirates straight from Australia’s’ white-ball tours of the West Indies and Bangladesh.
He looms as a World Cup key with his pace allies Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc coming off significant breaks from playing. Cummins has not bowled in a match since the IPL was suspended in April.
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READ NOWStarc has been training in Queensland after doing two stints of quarantine on return home from Bangladesh.
Maxwell’s RCB, captained by Indian superstar Virat Kohli, was knocked over by the Kolkata Knight Riders, who advanced to a must-win showdown with the Delhia Capitals on Thursday.
It was below expectations for a star-studded team, and Maxwell was forced to defend the players after a torrent of abuse on social media following the loss.
“Some of the garbage that has been flowing on social media is absolutely disgusting,” he wrote.
“Try being a decent person maybe instead of spreading abuse.”
Smith has been in and out of the Delhi side, coached by Australian legend Ricky Ponting, while Stoinis hasn’t played since injuring his hamstring in his opening spell of bowling on September 22.
“Hopefully, he will be in for the next game,” Capitals skipper Rishabh Pant said.
Maxwell will head to the World Cup armed with form and confidence having smashed 290 runs at an average of just under 50 since the IPL resumed.
The haul includes four half-centuries and Maxwell outscored his superstar teammates Kohli and AB de Villiers.
He will now link with the Australian squad who are in Dubai preparing for the T20 World Cup opener against South Africa.