Australian cricket star Glenn Maxwell had no idea what to expect when he met our two race drivers Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) during the Australian Grand Prix.

And with France and Argentina being countries not fully known for their cricketing prowess (rather football!), our two, equally, had no expectations on how they would fare with bat and ball.

Glenn is a superstar in Australia, known for his unorthodox way of batting and his ability to pull off the most unconventional cricket shots in exceptional circumstances. Having played 149 One Day International matches and 130 international Twenty20s in Australian green and gold, Maxwell remains a legend in sporting terms Down Under.

The 37-year-old took great pleasure in hosting Pierre and Franco, alongside bowling ace Scott Boland, at the MCG in the build up to race week in Melbourne.

“It’s been really cool. Anytime you introduce a new sport to someone is always very interesting, but for two athletes who have obviously got a high level of coordination and skill, is basically a lot easier,” says Glenn.

“You could see they really enjoyed the challenge of the game, and the intricate details, and it was clear both were desperate to move on to a harder challenge and they absolutely loved it,” he added.

“In terms of who was better? You couldn’t doubt the enthusiasm from Franco, but if I was to pick a player out of the two of them it would be Pierre. But for entertainment value, I think Franco was unbelievable!”

The visit to the MCG also featured Pierre’s trademark tennis ball reaction drill, although with the added pressure of catching the balls on the roof of the iconic stadium, which offered a spectacular backdrop of the city.

“You don’t get too many better places than the top of the MCG, the sporting home of Australia,” says the Australian all-rounder. “Although I made a mistake on one of the drills and whacked a tennis ball along the edge of the roof, which was funny!”

The team returned the favour for Glenn by hosting him and his wife Vini at the track on Friday Practice Day, giving them a glimpse into the fast-paced world of Formula One.

“To be a part of the garage and have the headphones on listening to the radio comms is something I really enjoyed, and to feel so close to the action. It’s the sort of access that any fan would love to experience,” Glenn says.

“I think seeing the difference between Pierre and Franco on a social day where they’re out learning a new skill with us at the MCG, to the race track where they’re focused on their job and they’re clearly locked in to what they need to do, it’s pretty cool to see the difference. And you can relate to that, as a fellow sportsman.”

“It was a great day and I’m certainly looking forward to doing it again in the future.”