Melbourne, Jan 28 (IANS) Australia all-rounder Glenn Maxwell has credited former New Zealand skipper Stephen Fleming for bringing maturity and responsibility to his career, which is flourishing now.
Maxwell’s career has hit an upward curve in the last few months and he was rewarded with Australia’s One-Day International (ODI) Player of the Year on Wednesday night.
“I’ve had a lot of chats with him about leadership and perception and that sort of thing and he’s been the guy I’ve been talking to a lot about changing the way I’ve been seen in public view,” Maxwell was quoted as saying by cricket.com.au on Thursday.
Since stepping down as the Black Caps’ most-capped skipper in 2006 and retiring as a player two years later, Fleming coached the Chennai Super Kings and helped them win the Indian Premier League (IPL) titles in 2010 and 2011 and the Champions League in 2010.
He was then appointed coach of the Melbourne Stars in the Big Bash League (BBL) this season, where he and Maxwell forged a close bond.
“He’s been really positive in the chats, probably because he’s been really honest. It’s nice to hear an outsider’s voice at the start and then get to know him and in addition what he thinks of where I’m going and how I’ve been seen as well,” he said.