#INDvAUS 3rd Test: Emotional Maxwell recollects his special century in Ranchi

Life has come a full circle for Australia all-rounder Glenn Maxwell. From being dropped from the One-day side for want of performances to his coach Darren Lehmann questioning his place in the Test team for not scoring a century in the last two years.

The 28-year-old from Victoria silenced everyone with a maiden Test century in his fourth Test, and first since November 2014. He said on Friday evening that he was a relieved man and hoped to continue this performance towards cementing his side in the Test team.

Excerpts from Maxwell’s interaction with the media at the end of the second day’s play on Friday:

On his batting style here:

Obviously, yesterday (Thursday), I came in at a time when we were in a bit of a tricky situation. I think we were four for 140. Luckily, I had Steve (Smith) at the other end, who is obviously quite experienced. Yeah, it just worked really well. The balls were reverse-swinging and I just tried to play as straight as I could and keep my pads out of the way. The plan was pretty simple, just keep doing that for as long as possible and try to keep the Indian team out on their feet for as long as possible. That was obviously the plan when we came out today. We were lucky enough today they bowled a few loose balls to start off today when we were able to score quite freely at the start of the day. It was probably unfortunate that I got out when I did because we could have made a 200-250 partnership that could have really driven the game a long way forward for us. But in saying that, we probably would have taken 450 at the start.

On his achievement that came after returning to the team:

Yeah, it's been a long time since my last Test in 2014. To get back in the side in the first place was something that I really held close to my heart. I was so happy to be able to walk back on the field with the Australian Test team with the Baggy Green cap on and I was so filled with joy when I had the opportunity to do that again. Suppose I just didn't really want to waste the opportunity. I didn't want to make it my last Test, that's for sure. I know how bad it felt when I played that last game in Dubai and didn't play again. Just wanted to make it count and every opportunity I get from now on. 

On whether this century could be the making of a Test career:

I certainly hope so. I can't really answer that right now but hopefully, it'll just tick something inside and I can continue to be consistent. I think that's always been the biggest thing the coaches, selectors have wanted – the consistency. If I can keep producing longer innings and batting long periods of time, building partnerships with other players, I think that's going to go a long way in firstly, holding my spot and secondly, winning games for Australia.

On his celebration after 100:

Yeah, it was probably more the emotion of the whole night I had, as well. You go to sleep 82 not out, you just put on a 150 with the skipper. I thought about it all night, I went through about 300-400 different scenarios that could have happened the next day. Most of them weren't good (laughs). But yeah, there was just so much emotion that fell out of me as soon as I got the hundred. Even thinking about it now, I've got a frog in my throat. It's just as special a moment I've had in my career and hopefully it's not the last.

On Steve Smith, the captain:

He probably lifts the team to a different level because he makes the game look so easy as well. I think we watch him play and everyone is in awe of the way he goes about it. He does it in such a unique, different way and he owns that. He doesn't care what people say about his technique. He has his technique doubters, but when the bloke's got 19 Test tons and averages over 60, I don't think you can knock it too much. He’s just a guy people feed off. He's very inspirational, I suppose with the way he's gone about his career. When he came into the team, he was a leg-spinning all-rounder, bating at 8 or 9 I think it was. What a turnaround he's done. That's a long way off, but I'd love to fall in his footsteps and change my career from what I started to as well. 

On Pat Cummins dismissing KL Rahul: 

Yeah, I was pretty excited. It was a pretty quick spell, and exciting spell as well. And one that everyone knows, the talent that Patty has. For him to come back and get that first wicket for us, it just gave us something to get out of that last session. It was starting to go away from us a little bit and he just brought that little bit of life. Almost a little bit like what Starcy was doing for us. Just a little fast burst of pace, a couple of short balls and all of a sudden it can change the game. Hopefully tomorrow, with a little bit of freshening up tonight, he can do the same thing for us. 

On the lows of 2016: 

Yeah, I got a bit low. That was for sure. I was in a place where I doubted whether I can play Test cricket again and whether to put the cap back on and I just did whatever I can on and off the field and tried changes in technique and numerous discussions with a lot of people and tried staying aloof as much I could and kept on asking questions and change people’s perception that what Maxwell was doing. They knew what I was doing, whether me being at the gym or at the nets or playing golf and was always in contact and make people change the perception and win trust of people and winning the trust was what probably got back the place. Playing this Test had lot of emotions in there.

On playing as a primary batsman alone:

Probably, I wasn’t that good a spinner when I played for Australia then. But I made most of the opportunity at that time of the career. I tried to bring both sides of the game going forward. With the way Smith’s game has gone and with captaincy, he has been solely focused on being just the batsman. If I’m playing the same role as I’m doing in this Test, I should be giving the team a lot more and just not be a batman and fielder. You got to contribute a lot more if you are No. 6

On playing Jadeja:

There was this area in the wicket where it was a little bit dry and he kept on hitting around it and it just reacted differently. That was all. I got couple of times beaten while playing forward, but it missed the bat by fair margin. If I’m in and I’m missing by that far it is not that easy. He was hitting that consistent spot and if it skidded on it hit stumps and if it spun, you had a chance to nick it. It took him a while to find that awkward spot and we just wanted to find the singles last afternoon, but today he was very accurate.

On the pitch:

I’ve no idea. I just hope it explodes