Glenn Maxwell Discusses Rehabilitation Following 'Freak' Accident

Published - 11 Jan 2023, 05:50 PM | Updated - 23 Aug 2024, 12:15 AM

Glenn Maxwell. (Photo: Twitter)

Star Australian all-rounder Glenn Maxwell claims that following his horrible broken leg, he basically had to educate himself on how to walk again and worried he would never play cricket again.

Maxwell suffered severe injuries to his left fibula and upper foot ligaments late last year in a strange backyard accident while attending a friend’s birthday celebration. He dropped five kg in the two weeks following the procedure, but his surgeon and physicians are certain that if he is diligent with his rehabilitation regimen, he will fully recover.

I Had To Teach Myself How To Walk: Glenn Maxwell

In an open interview with Fox Cricket on Tuesday night’s Strikers-Renegades TV broadcast, Glenn Maxwell described the discomfort he had in the early stages of his comeback, both physically and mentally.

“That first week in hospital was pretty difficult … I did think that I might not play cricket again,” Maxwell told Fox Cricket. “There were those thoughts while I was in hospital looking at my leg because it looked like a balloon.

“The next week I was at home after I got back from the hospital and I thought it was going to be a lot easier at home. (But) not having the nurses there and not having the constant pain medication … that was probably the most pain I’ve ever been in. Just trying to get around the house was awful.”

Glenn Maxwell claimed he was “very pleased” of his post-surgery mindset in an interview with colleagues Fox Cricket commentators Mark Howard and Brad Haddin, but he also acknowledged that it had been a difficult and prolonged journey to get back on his feet, both physically and psychologically.

“I had to teach myself how to walk, which was pretty bizarre because the actual joint was so swollen and tight that it was basically like having two blocks of wood nailed together,” he said.

“There was no real movement, no flexion at all. I had to teach myself how to get the courage to walk forward over the top of my foot and go heel to toe. Being in a pool and doing all that rehab has been really helpful.”

Glenn Maxwell Motivated To Get Ready For India Tour

The possibility that his cricket career may be finished originally confronted Glenn Maxwell, but he managed to concentrate his energies and transform his concerns into “ultra-positives.”

“I did a few video calls and talked to a bunch of people … as soon as I could start to move and walk a little bit, every day I was making progress – so I was basically just holding onto the fact I was making progress,” he said.

“I started looking forward, thinking: ‘You know what? I’m going to make this recovery the best possible recovery possible. I’m going to come back early and stronger than ever.’

“I started to try and use it as a motivation factor instead of: ‘Oh no why has this happened to me?’ I tried to turn it around and think about how I can finish the back-end of my career and be the fittest I’ve been, healthiest and most motivated.

“We’ve got the Test tour of India coming up and I was super motivated to get myself ready for that. Whether or not I’m on that, only time will tell. But I’ve done everything in my power to try and get ready for it and get myself back playing. There’s still a fair way to go.

“I’m really proud of how much work I’ve put in day and night. I’ve had a lot of sleepless nights icing and trying to get myself ready, nights sleeping on the couch with pillows all around my foot and ice packs shoved into my boot.”

Glenn Maxwell is currently evaluating his development each week rather than announcing a specific comeback date to professional cricket. Although it is now less probable that he will play again for the Melbourne Stars before the Big Bash is over.

Also Read: IND vs SL: “It Feels Good When The Team Captain Backs You” – Shubman Gill