Glenn Maxwell left the cricketing world in awe with a stunning century in Australia’s record-breaking victory over the Netherlands during the 24th match of the ongoing World Cup. His century scored in just 40 balls, became the fourth fastest in One Day Internationals (ODIs) history and the quickest ever in a World Cup match, earning him the well-deserved Player of the Match title.
However, amidst the celebration of this extraordinary achievement, Maxwell expressed his disapproval of the mid-innings light shows that have become a regular feature in some World Cup matches. Witnesses at the Delhi venue noticed Maxwell covering his eyes during the glittering performance.
When asked about his dislike for the light show, Maxwell didn’t hold back. He explained that a similar light show had caused him severe headaches during a Big Bash game at Perth Stadium. He criticized the idea of having such distractions during a cricket match, especially when players need to focus on fast-moving balls and adjust their vision accordingly.
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“Well, something like that light show similar happened at Perth Stadium during a Big Bash game. I just felt like it gave me shocking headaches and it takes me a while for my eyes to readjust. I just think it’s the dumbest idea for cricketers when you’ve got this thing coming at you quickly and your eyes take so long to adjust and I think we just lost a wicket and the Perth Stadium lights went nuts,” Maxwell was quoted as saying by Wisden.
“I was at the other end and it took me ages to get my eyes to go again and I felt like I had a headache – so I just try and cover up as much as I possibly can and ignore it but it’s a horrible, horrible idea,” he added.
Australia registered a record win over the Netherlands
Maxwell’s honest criticism sheds light on a rarely discussed aspect of cricket – the impact of mid-game light shows on players’ concentration and performance. Coming to the match, Australia set an imposing target of 399-8 in their allotted 50 overs, which proved insurmountable for the Netherlands. The Dutch team was bowled out for a mere 90 runs, thanks to Adam Zampa’s four-wicket haul.
