'Freaky' Maxwell eyes permanent top-order move

Glenn Maxwell's "freaky" innings on Sunday could just be enough to ward off the competition vying for a top-three batting berth for Australia at next year's T20 World Cup, teammate Pat Cummins believes.

The Victorian was superb against Sri Lanka in his follow-up gut punch to David Warner and Aaron Finch's 122-run opening stand, crushing 62 off 28 balls after being promoted ahead of Steve Smith.

It helped Australia to 2-233 at Adelaide Oval before they kept the visitors to 9-99 in the first of their three-match Gillette T20 International series that continues at the Gabba on Wednesday night.

"Freaky," Cummins said succinctly of his knock.

"I said tongue in cheek he looked quite level headed, not all over the place and then saw he was 45 off like 15 balls ... just crazy.

"He's brilliant for us, especially in T20 cricket."

Cummins hinted that there would be a degree of shuffling within the squad as they build towards next year's World Cup on home soil.

It means Maxwell may not walk out at the fall of the first wicket on Wednesday night, even if he is arguably the best man for the job.

"You see so many of our guys, they all bat in that top three (for their T20 franchises)," Cummins said.

"We have plenty of options but he took hold of that yesterday."

Warner, who reached his first T20 International century off the final ball of Australia's innings, said it was a perfect blueprint for next year's T20 World Cup.

The 134-run win over Sri Lanka was the host nation's largest ever T20 win by runs and the 2-233 they posted was Australia's fourth-largest T20 total and biggest on home soil.

Warner says the swashbuckling batting performance was the prototype for the T20 World Cup in Australia starting next October.

"The thing we can take out of it is making sure that we stick to our game plans," Warner said.

"We're going to be playing at all these venues (at the World Cup) so with the bat, you have got to work out where you're going to hit your boundaries, what gaps you're going to hit, what bowlers you're going to take on in the first six (overs).

"These are things that you have got to think about when you're out there.

"There's a lot to learn in this game and you're still learning every game you play leading into this World Cup."

Australia's batsmen were also going to school on the tactics of their bowling teammates.

"It's about us as batters trying to work off, and learn off, our bowlers as well," Warner said.

"And making sure we're playing the right brand ... out there (in Adelaide) you saw it firsthand."

Gillette T20 INTLs v Sri Lanka

Australia squad: Aaron Finch (c), Ashton Agar, Alex Carey, Pat Cummins, Glenn Maxwell, Ben McDermott, Kane Richardson, Steve Smith, Billy Stanlake, Mitchell Starc, Ashton Turner, David Warner, Adam Zampa, Sean Abbott (from game two)

Sri Lanka squad: Lasith Malinga (c), Kusal Perera, Kusal Mendis, Danushka Gunathilaka, Avishka Fernando, Niroshan Dickwella, Dasun Shanaka, Shehan Jayasuriya, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Oshada Fernando, Wanindu Hasaranga, Lakshan Sandakan, Nuwan Pradeep, Lahiru Kumara, Isuru Udana, Kasun Rajitha

First T20: Australia won by 134 runs

October 30: Second T20I, Gabba, 6.10pm (Fox & Kayo)

November 1: Third T20I, MCG, 7.10pm (Fox & Kayo)

Gillette T20 INTLs v Pakistan

Pakistan squad: Babar Azam (c), Asif Ali, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Sohail, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Imam-ul-Haq, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Irfan, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Musa Khan, Shadab Khan, Usman Qadir.

November 3: First T20I, SCG, 2.30pm (Fox & Kayo)

November 5: Second T20I, Manuka Oval, 7.10pm (Fox & Kayo)

November 8: Third T20I, Perth Stadium, 4.30pm (Fox & Kayo)