Maxwell comfortable being Australia’s main spinner

Brisbane, Feb 18 (IANS) With Xavier Doherty unlikely to play many if any matches this World Cup, all-rounder Glenn Maxwell is taking his role as Australia’s No.1 spinner very seriously.

Maxwell’s record suggests he’s more part-timer, but the brilliant Victorian has made bowling a major focus over recent months and is preparing as if he’ll deliver 10 overs a match, news.com.au reported Wednesday.

It’s assumed George Bailey will be the man to make way for returning captain Michael Clarke Saturday, but if it were Shane Watson who was a shock omission, Maxwell would be required for extra duties against Bangladesh.

Maxwell took a career-best four wickets in the One-Day International (ODI) tri-series final against England, but only bowled four overs in the World Cup opener - indicating his role will vary from match to match.

The 26-year-old is ready regardless and views himself as a front-liner.

“I prepare in the nets as if I’m going to be required to bowl 10 overs. So I suppose with that in mind I do feel like I'm a bowler in this team, especially the last game where we only had myself as the spinner,” he said.

“I expect to bowl 10 overs if required. I know we’ve obviously got a couple of all-rounders in the team who are going to bowl, but if you don’t prepare that way I think you’re selling yourself short.”

Maxwell said he wouldn’t survive in the one-day game as a part-time spinner even if he wanted to.

Fielding restrictions which mean teams can have no more than four fielders outside the circle at any time, have made spinning a full-time job this World Cup.

“You have to do your homework a bit more on certain batters. Who reverse sweeps, who goes inside out over cover … spinners have to do more homework with the rules now,” he said.

“When you had five out you knew what you had to do. You had to bowl with three out on the leg side and two out on the off - it was quite simple for a spinner to have his field at the start," he added.

“Now you have to think about it and do your homework. It’d be nice to have a few wickets that spin for us this tournament but I’m not holding my breath.”