Is Glenn Maxwell the first Australian Player to Score a Double Century in ODI cricket?

Glenn Maxwell's superhuman effort to single-handedly hand defeat to Afghanistan by scoring a double century continues to be the talk among many cricket fans. However, is Maxwell the first Australian to achieve this feat? Let’s find out.

Social Media Posts

Social media posts state that Glenn Maxwell is the first Australian player to score a double century (200 runs or more) in a One Day International (ODI) match.

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Users commented on it, like below.

We decided to do a fact-check on this.

Fact Check

Glenn Maxwell is indeed the first Australian male player to score a double century in ODIs. He achieved this feat against Afghanistan in the 2023 Cricket World Cup, scoring an unbeaten 201*. Details about it can be read here | Archived
However, Belinda Clark, an Australian female cricketer, scored the first double-century in ODIs by any Australian player. She achieved this feat against Denmark in the 1997 Women's World Cup, scoring an unbeaten 229. Details about it can be read here: Archived
The story of Belinda can be watched in the below 3-minute video.

Several media outlets and social media users did not mention Clark's innings in their early reports after Maxwell's remarkable innings. Clark, a diplomat and an ICC Hall of Famer, was not offended and expressed the views below to Yahoo-Sport Australia.

"What an inning it was, especially considering the situation," she told Yahoo Sport Australia. "I think it's great, and I'm happy for Glenn and the team. The comparison to my innings is a talking point that can help further recognize women's sports. It was a long time ago, in 1997, so I welcome him to the club."

When asked if she was upset at being overlooked in some reports, Clark replied, "My view is that we need to respect performances regardless of gender. There is room for everyone. However, the error is usually one-way traffic. Women have been playing international cricket since 1934." Related Yahoo Sports articles can be read here. Archived.

It is essential to be accurate when reporting on sporting achievements, especially regarding milestones like double centuries. By making misleading claims, we can misinform the public and undermine the accomplishments of athletes like Belinda Clark.

Also Read: Is Maxwell paying tribute to Sachin after his Herculean effort? Find out the facts…

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Conclusion

Therefore, it is misleading to say that Glenn Maxwell is the first Australian player to score a double century in ODIs. He is the first Australian male player to do so, but not the first Australian player overall.