Although Glenn Maxwell “cannot wait” to be a father, he believes it doesn’t give him any extra motivation to succeed on the international stage with Australia.
However, the blistering all-rounder believes it will provide a “nice distraction” to help him escape the all-encompassing environment of cricket that comes with being at a World Cup.
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Maxwell will jet out with the T20 squad to South Africa but will return home midway through the series for the birth of his baby boy before linking back up with the team ahead of the World Cup in India.
It will be the 34-year-old’s third World Cup in the ODI format but also his first as a father.
Yet there is no greater motivator to win than representing your nation and wrestling back control of a trophy Australia has won five times previously.
“You’re playing for your country, there’s always plenty to play for,” Maxwell said.
“It doesn’t get heightened by any other reasons. Any time you’re representing your country, it’s worth exactly the same as any other time.
“But it’s just going to be a bit different. As a dad, I’ll probably have my mind going elsewhere at different times.
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“It’s probably a nice distraction, gives you something else to think about. Sometimes when you go all into cricket, you can get a bit mentally drained, especially during these big tournaments.
“But I think to have that distraction is quite nice, gives me something else off the field and not just playing a round of golf and spacing out that way.”
At age 34, there’s a sense this World Cup may also be Maxwell’s last along with other veterans in the squad like David Warner and Mitchell Starc.
But the Victorian doesn’t plan to hang up the gloves in the format just yet.
At least not until a younger talent bursts onto the scene and kicks the door down.
“I try and keep things open,” Maxwell said.
“I still feel quite long and I still feel like the role I play and where my body is at is still viable for a long period of time.
“As soon as someone either gets past me or is better than me, then I’ll probably step aside.
“But I think while there’s still a role to play in the side and while I feel I’m doing the job and still feel like I’m up to it, I’m still pretty comfortable playing for Australia as long as I can.”