‘I’m very aware of them’ – Maxwell knew he had the fastest World Cup hundred

He overcame illness and a lack of sleep to produce one of his most stunning displays. Glenn Maxwell admitted he is very aware of the fastest century records and sometimes chases them to his own detriment, after clubbing the quickest ODI World Cup hundred off just 40 balls in Australia’s thumping win over the Netherlands in Delhi.

Maxwell obliterated the record set by South Africa’s Aiden Markram just a couple of weeks ago at the same ground. Maxwell also has the fourth fastest World Cup century off 51 balls against Sri Lanka in 2015, which was one ball shy of Kevin O’Brien’s then-record of 50 against England in 2011. Maxwell conceded he has gone overboard in the past trying to set such records.

“I’m very aware of them,” Maxwell said. “I’m very aware of balls faced. I love the fastest 50, fastest 100 records. I think they’re pretty cool records. Sometimes to the detriment of myself, I’ve always probably pushed the boundaries a bit too much. “I think against Afghanistan in 2015, I was 88 off [38] and I was like ‘I’m getting it in the next two balls’. I hit one straight to cover and butchered it. I think I got my fastest hundred next game.

“I’ve been in those positions before where I could make fast hundreds when I get on the run – I know I’m difficult to bowl to. It’s just about getting past the first ball.” Maxwell revealed that the situation of the game and his own health helped calm him down after falling to a crazy first-ball slog in the previous game against Pakistan, where the perfect platform had been laid for him to do something similar.