Former England match-winner Andrew Flintoff has gone into bat for Glenn Maxwell, urging Australia’s selectors to keep faith in the backfiring allrounder.

Maxwell’s World Cup position appears in jeopardy as the Victorian nicknamed Big Show has hit the worst form slump of his career – highlighted by an embarrassing first-ball duck on Sunday night.

The 26-year-old suffered his third straight failure in the Big Bash League as he charged then backed away to leg against Brisbane Heat left-armer Ryan Duffield only to watch an inswinger cannon into his stumps.

Wicketkeeping great Adam Gilchrist labelled the bizarre Gabba dismissal one of the biggest brain explosions in cricket history and also chided Maxwell for continually taking a rash approach to the start of his innings.

Gilchrist’s assessment was mild compared to many in the Twittersphere, including Maxwell who called his actions “dumb and sh*t”.

But Heat drawcard Flintoff defended the big-hitting gambler.

“It was strange but Glenn is a fantastic player and I saw him make 160 (for Hampshire) against Lancashire this year in a 50-over game and play shots that I’d never seen in my life,” the 2005 Ashes hero said.

“Sometimes you are going to get the horrendous dismissals but on the flip side you will get the special innings as well.

“He’s a guy who’s easy to heap criticism on but I think that’s unfair. He’s an entertainer and crowds love to come out and watch him.

“There’s all the good things he does as a player and you can’t have it both ways.”

A $1.06 million Indian Premier League signing, Maxwell has averaged just 11 across his last 28 Twenty20 matches this year while he’s passed 50 just once in his past 11 one-day internationals where he’s averaged 16.

But Flintoff, who scored 15 and took 2-41 in a thrilling Heat win, attributed part of that record to Maxwell’s team-first attitude.

“The one thing I like about Glenn as a player is he’s selfless,” he said. “His goal is not his wicket but scoring runs for his team.

“In a World Cup he’s going to win you one or two games.”

The Heat’s one-run victory at the Gabba consigned Maxwell’s Melbourne Stars to a third straight loss, leaving them needing to win their last five games to make the play-offs.