Australia's Maxwell in 'full body pain' during 'greatest-ever' ODI innings

Glenn Maxwell said his entire body was in pain and that he almost retired during an epic match-winning double century for Australia at the 50-overs World Cup, hailed Wednesday as the greatest one-day knock of all time.

Match Summary

Australia vs Afghanistan, ICC Cricket World Cup

Australia 293/7 (46.5 ov)

Afghanistan 291/5 (50 ov)

Result - Australia won by 3 wickets

SCORECARD

The mercurial Australian smacked a remarkable 201 not out as his team successfully chased 292 for victory over Afghanistan in Mumbai on Tuesday.

It was only the third double hundred in World Cup history and the first in a run chase.

But it came at a price, with Maxwell riddled by severe cramps. He collapsed in agony at one stage, barely able to walk as he limped between the wickets.

Maxwell admitted discussing with Australian physio Nick Jones whether he should retire after his body gave up and he sank to the ground while on 147 and with 55 runs still needed to win.

But with a place in the World Cup semi-finals at stake and Maxwell leading the recovery after Australia had slumped to 91-7, he defied the discomfort.

"It was a strange one, because I was cramping in one of my toes, which was sort of going up the front of my shin. And then as I set off to try and get down the other end, I cramped in that calf as well," he told Australian media.

"So I was cramping both sides of my lower leg. And as I went 'Oh no, I'm cramping,' I cramped in my left hamstring at the same time. So I was like, 'I've got both legs.' And then I had a back spasm when I hit the ground.

"So I was just like full body just in pain."

- 'Loves playing for Australia' -

Jones suggested he should retire, but Maxwell was having none of it after being told the chances of being able to return after treatment, if needed, were not good.

"We talked about coming off, trying to get some work into my back and trying to loosen up my legs a little bit," said the 35-year-old, who missed Australia's previous match due to a concussion after falling off a golf cart.

"Jonesy, the physio, said it would be really hard for me to come back down the stairs after that.

"We just came up with 'let's stay at the same end' for as long as you can until you feel like you can walk to the other end or if there's an easy single here and there."

Maxwell went on to compile the highest-ever ODI score by an Australian in a 202-run eighth-wicket stand with captain Pat Cummins, who contributed just 12 in the partnership.

Cummins called it the "greatest ODI innings that has ever happened", sealing Australia's spot in the last four.

"We were just chatting about it, all the players, and we've decided it's one of those days where you just go, 'I was there in the stadium the day Glenn Maxwell chased down that total by himself'," Cummins told cricket.com.au.

"He was cramping, but I think you saw out there how much he loves playing for Australia."

The sentiment was shared by some of the world's cricketing greats, who were also left stunned.

"From Max pressure to Max performance! This has been the best ODI knock I've seen in my life," Indian legend Sachin Tendulkar said on X, formerly Twitter, while ex-India coach Ravi Shastri called it "stunning".

England's Ben Stokes simply said: "My goodness Maxi", while former West Indies fast bowler Ian Bishop hailed it as a reminder of "the intrinsic beauty, unpredictability and inspiring drama of this wonderful game".

- Other great ODI knocks -

We take a look at three other memorable knocks that changed the course of an ODI.

- Kapil Dev: 175 (June 18, 1983) –

Remembered as one of the best ODI innings of all time, Kapil Dev's unbeaten 175 was a knock that lifted India from 17-5 to a win over Zimbabwe in the third edition of the World Cup.

Coming to bat at number six, skipper Kapil turned the match on its head with his 138-ball blitz laced with 16 fours and six sixes at Tunbridge Wells to keep India in the hunt for the title.

He got support from wicketkeeper-batsman Syed Kirmani, who hit an unbeaten 24, as India posted 266-8 in the 60-overs-a-side match and then bundled out Zimbabwe for 235.

Interestingly broadcasters BBC did not cover the game and hence no footage was available of Kapil's epic that inspired the team to win their maiden World Cup title after beating the much-fancied West Indies in the final.

- Inzamam-ul-Haq: 60 (March 21, 1992) –

A little-known Inzamam-ul-Haq rose to cricketing stardom with his 37-ball 60 to drive Pakistan's successful chase in a World Cup semi-final against New Zealand.

The 22-year-old Inzamam, for whom skipper Imran Khan fought with the selectors for a World Cup place, took centre-stage at 140-4 in a chase of 263 -- a challenging ask in the pre-T20 era.

He took on the Kiwi bowlers with his laidback elegance and assured strokeplay to turn the tide in his team's favour with support from the ever-dependable Javed Miandad, who made 57 not out.

Inzamam was run out in the 45th over but ensured the team momentum by then as Miandad and Moin Khan clinched victory with an over to spare, leaving New Zealand skipper Martin Crowe heartbroken in Auckland.

The innings helped Pakistan move into their first World Cup final and won the title after beating Graham Gooch's England.

- Herschelle Gibbs: 175 (March 12, 2006) –

South Africa's Herschelle Gibbs entered the record books with his 175 off 111 balls in an epic ODI involving Australia which produced 872 runs in 99.5 overs of intense drama in Johannesburg.

In the fifth and deciding match of the bi-lateral contest, Australia had put up a record total of 434-4 in 50 overs courtesy of captain Ricky Ponting's flawless 105-ball 164.

South Africa lost opener Boeta Dippenaar for one in the second over but Gibbs came in with a steely resolve to put on a partnership of 187 with skipper Graeme Smith, who made 90, to set the tone for the record chase.

Gibbs departed in the 32nd over with the Proteas on 299-4 before Mark Boucher hit an unbeaten 50 and steered the team to victory with a ball to spare.

The knock remained Gibbs' highest ODI total in his 248-match career that ended in 2010.