If you wanted to spot the next brash Australian cricketer coming a mile off, then Glenn Maxwell is quite possibly that man. Fellow team mate Matthew Wade has called him "The Big Show."

On arrival in Colombo for last September's World Twenty20, the 24-year-old was hardly trying to fly under anybody's radar. "I feel like I can become that x-factor in all three facets of the game and hopefully be that flair that Australia really wants to see", he confidently predicted.

"That could mean a run out, a brilliant catch, a breakthrough wicket with the ball or big hitting." That pretty much covers all bases then. He did nothing of any note in Sri Lanka, but has compiled a few ODI 50s since that have caught the eye.

His unbeaten 51 against the West Indies contained nine fours and two sixes, although a meagre target of 70 to win was an ideal scenario for such an exhibition.

All of the talk and a bit of the action has impressed the IPL to the tune of one million dollars. Maxwell was finally bought by Mumbai after a fierce bidding war with new entrants Sunrisers Hyderabad.

"He is an upcoming youngster," Nita Ambani, owner of the Mumbai franchise, said. "He can bat, bowl and I think he is a great fielder. Everybody seems to be getting excited very early about how 'upcoming' Maxwell is."

The Victorian did blast the fastest half-century in Australian domestic cricket against a high quality Tasmanian attack. With only a handful of international appearances behind him, the Australian selectors feel that Maxwell is on the verge of the longer format as well.

He scored 64 for Australia A against the touring South Africans and narrowly missed out on a Test debut against the Sri Lankans.

Australian coach Mickey Arthur has been quick off the mark in praising Maxwell's off-breaks - even though he has not played a first class game in two months and only 15 overall.

With the retirement of Michael Hussey and the pitches in India receptive, it seems certain that the man who has been raised on Twenty20 could play a maiden Test as a spinning all-rounder. Is mastering a stock ball in the nets and giving the ball a belt suddenly enough evidence to make the leap? It appears so.

Perhaps somebody should listen to another big showman of his time, Dean Jones. The former Australian batsman suggests that Maxwell reminds him of Ian Harvey, who could play a shot that would 'blow your mind away', would 'bowl the occasional jaffa and take the most amazing catch'.

The inference is that Maxwell is a bowler first and a batsman second. Harvey is also a man who never played a Test match. Jones has suggested that it may be worth the risk of taking Maxwell as a number seven as India have not seen him with either bat or ball.

Patience is a virtue but it is not Maxwell's strongest suit. He is promising more reserve in the longer format, but it remains to be seen whether he has the defence to balance his attack. It might be fun finding out.

Tim Ellis