5 most jaw-dropping shots by Glenn Maxwell in his career

Australian all-rounder Glenn Maxwell is one of the fiercest strikers of the cricket ball around the globe.

Be it Tests, ODIs or T20s, he knows only one way to bat - go after the bowlers right from the start. His strike rates - 73.86 in First-Class cricket, 121 in List A and 152.31 in T20s in a testament to it.

Maxwell is also one of the best innovators when it comes to playing unorthodox shots to put the opposition under pressure.

The Victorian has unleashed some out-of-the-world shots during his career. The latest one came on Wednesday against the Netherlands during his record-breaking 44-ball 106 in Delhi.

On that note, let's revisit the five most jaw-dropping shots by Glenn Maxwell in his career.

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#1 Yorkshire vs Lancashire - 2015

Glenn Maxwell generally bats in the middle order whichever team he plays for and irrespective of the format.

However, during his stint with Yorkshire in the T20 Blast 2015, he was promoted to open the bat during a game against Lancashire at Headingley.

The right-hander needed no invitation and grabbed the opportunity, hitting a reverse sweep for six on the first ball of the match. Steven Croft, an off-spinner, pitched one down the leg and Maxwell unleashed a reverse sweep to clear the boundary in some style.

The extraordinary shot on the first ball of the game left everyone shell-shocked, including his own teammates.

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#2 Australia vs Pakistan - 2015

In a low-scoring quarterfinal clash in Adelaide, Australia were in some trouble chasing 214 against Pakistan. Left-arm pacer Wahab Riaz lit up the second innings with a fiery spell on a bouncy Adelaide wicket.

Reeling at 59-3 in 10.4 overs, the hosts were staring at the barrel when Maxwell came out charging. He played a quickfire 44* off 29, including five boundaries and two sixes, to change the momentum of the game.

The hard-hitting batter took on Riaz, who was shedding fire from one end. Maxwell played one of the most jaw-dropping shots against Riaz, who was steaming in.

Maxwell stepped back to make room for himself, but the left-arm pacer followed him with a bouncer. Maxwell produced a tennis shot to carve it through backward point.

Pakistan captain Misab-ul-Haq looked absolutely shocked as Maxwell took the game away from them single-handedly.

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#3 Melbourne Stars vs Adelaide Strikers - 2018

Hitting reverse sweeps against spinners has become normal in today's cricketing landscape, but hitting a fast bowler for a reverse-sweep six takes some effort.

Glenn Maxwell shocked the world with his effort during a Big Bash League game between the Melbourne Stars and the Adelaide Strikers in 2018.

Maxwell, who was batting on 52, produced an unreal shot in the 18th over against his Victorian teammate Peter Siddle.

It was a length delivery on off-stump from Siddle, and Maxwell reverse swatted to the point boundary, leaving everyone in surprise.

Although Melbourne lost the game by eight wickets, Glenn Maxwell's extraordinary shot made it to the hearts of cricket lovers.

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#4 Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Rajasthan Royals - 2023

Royal Challengers Bangalore all-rounder Glenn Maxwell rediscovered himself in the Indian Premier Leagueearlier this year.

He led RCB's middle order throughout the competition, accumulating 400 runs in 14 games at a strike rate of almost 185, including five half-centuries.

Maxwell was a treat for fans, entertaining them with some unorthodox shots and was also a livewire on the field.

The Aussie star arguably played the most difficult shot during a game between Bangalore and the Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2023. It was a premeditated effort from Maxwell, who went for a reverse sweep against a pacer.

After watching Glenn Maxwell line up for a reverse sweep, Sandeep Sharma pulled his length back. But, the right-handed batter went ahead with the shot, hitting a reverse sweep of a short-pitch delivery and collecting a boundary.

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#5 Australia vs Netherlands - 2023

Glenn Maxwell was in destructive mood on Wednesday during Australia's fifth 2023 World Cup game against the Netherlands at the Arun Jaitley Stadium.

After two consecutive defeats to start the campaign, the five-time champions bounced back in style, winning three games on the trot. Their latest victory came against the Dutch, where Maxwell wreaked havoc with the bat, smashing a record-breaking century.

The 35-year-old smoked 106 off 44 and broke the record for the fastest century in the history of the men's ODI World Cup, achieving the landmark in 40 balls. He leapfrogged Aiden Markram who had set the mark just three weeks earliwr, with his 49-ball ton against Sri Lanka.

During his historic knock, Maxwell played some outrageous shots, including a reverse sweep for six off Bas de Leede.

It was full and fast from the Netherlands pacer, but Maxwell reverse swept it over the third man region with his pin-point timing and mastery to pull off astounding shots.

The shot left everyone shocked, with former teammate Shane Watson shouting, "Oh that's ridiculous," off the mic.

Which is your favorite Glenn Maxwell shot? Let us know in the comment section.