Men of Steel

GLENN MAXWELL

Had Glenn Maxwell been born in a different era, he might have been considered a pariah by the cricket fraternity, or worse, he might not have been considered for an international side at all, in the first place. But such is the evolving nature of the game and such has been Maxwell's ability to innovate and improvise shots, that the middle-order batsman is proving himself to be a gamechanger for Australia. Take yesterday's innings against Sri Lanka for instance. In a matter of just 53 balls, the right-hander blasted 102, with 10 boundaries and four maximums, to turn Australia's innings from above-average to colossal.

DANIEL VETTORI

After 31 completed matches of the World Cup, it can be safely said that this has been a batsman's tournament so far. Whatever impression bowlers have managed to make, have come mostly from the pacers. Therefore when one finds Daniel Vettori's name right amongst the top wicket-takers' list, (one wicket behind the leader, Trent Boult, with 12 wickets from five matches), it only speaks of the pedigree and quality of the wily left-arm spinner. After yesterday's figures of 4 for 18 against Afghanistan, Vettori's economy rate is a meagre three-runs-an-over, the best of any bowler to have taken a wicket, and his average of 11.33 is fourth amongst those.