Glenn Maxwell explains why his all-time double ton at the Cricket World Cup almost didn’t happen

Glenn Maxwell has revealed he seriously considered quitting hurt before delivering one of the greatest ODI innings in history to lead Australia to victory.

Maxwell’s Miracle in Mumbai against Afghanistan has been widely hailed as the greatest ODI innings of all time after he hit 201 off 128 balls to help Australia chase down 291.

After falling to 7-91 early, Maxwell and Pat Cummins’ unbeaten 202-run stand saw Australia qualify for the semi-finals, where they will face South Africa.

In one of the most dominant displays ever, Maxwell hit 21 fours and 10 sixes while scoring 68.6 percent of Australia’s runs.

But his innings was more than just about numbers as he struggled to move properly due to severe cramps in both legs, which saw him go down at one point.

Unable to move his body while playing shots, Maxwell endured a nine-over spell with Cummins when they ran just six.

“It was strange because I got a cramp in one of my toes, which went down the front of my shin,” Maxwell said.

“And when I started to go down the other side, I got a cramp in that calf too. So I got cramps on both sides of my lower leg.

“And when I went down with ‘oh, I’m cramping,’ I cramped my left hamstring both times.

“So I have both legs, and a back spasm at the same time.”

Such was Maxwell’s limited freedom of movement. Teammates compared his running to that of Olympic walker Jane Saville.

Australia at one point had Adam Zampa walk along the boundary rope to replace Maxwell with 10 overs and 60 runs remaining, but the Victorian opted to stay on the field.

“It was definitely in our conversations,” Maxwell said.

“We talked about coming down and trying to get some work in my back and trying to loosen up my legs a little bit.

‘Jonesy (Nick Jones) the physio said it would be very difficult to get back down the stairs after that.

“Then we thought ‘let’s stay on the same side as long as possible’ until you can at least walk to the other side if there’s an easy single.

The Australian star single-handedly saved his team as he faced a humiliating defeat

But he almost retired after suffering severe cramps during his physically demanding innings

“But for a while it was ‘if I can cross one or two lines,’ it didn’t really matter what happened on the other side.

“Because we could have run a ball at that point, there was some planning, it wasn’t just chaotic swinging.”

Maxwell’s innings was immediately rated among the greats, with Ricky Ponting commentating that he had never seen anything like it.

Sachin Tendulkar also called it the best ODI innings he had ever seen, as did Adam Gilchrist and former England captain Michael Vaughan.

Maxwell himself said he still needed time to let it sink in before he could judge where it ended up.

But having missed the previous win against England after suffering concussion after falling from a golf cart last week, he knows he will not be celebrating before the final group match against Bangladesh.

“After the first two games, we were almost written off by most people,” Maxwell said.

‘To be able to string six wins together at the right time… to be in the semi-finals is a great feeling and hopefully we enjoy a few days in Pune.

“I’ll stay away from the golf carts.”