Good teams find ways to win: Langer

Justin Langer has challenged Glenn Maxwell to be Australia's answer to Virat Kohli, insisting he could not only become a world-beating 50-over batsman, but also a bona fide Test player.

The once-mercurial allrounder has steadily assumed a more consistent role in Australia's middle-order during their ascendant pre-World Cup run, posting scores of 71 (off 55 balls) and 98 (off 82) to lift Australia to their sixth- and seventh-consecutive ODI wins.

It comes after a blazing 50-ball ton against India to see Maxwell become the first Australian to score three international T20 centuries.

Selfless Maxwell falls short of ODI ton

Langer has seen Kohli, the man some already regard as the best 50-over player of all time, first-hand in all formats across the course of his first summer as Australian coach and believes Maxwell has the pure skill to match him.

"The challenge for him is, and I've said this to him, we've just seen Virat Kohli, who is an extraordinarily talented player – he averages 60 in ODI cricket. He is a great player," Langer said ahead of Australia's fifth and final one-dayer against Pakistan.

"At the moment, in 99 games, Maxi averages 32 or 33.

"He can be Virat Kohli. He has got the talent to do that.

"The way he played that T20 hundred in India, the way he played both T20s - we know he's a great T20 player.

"His next challenge is to become a great ODI player and then potentially a Test player.

"So there's huge upside for him and while he keeps practicing with the purpose he's got and winning games of cricket like he is, it's great to have him."

Maxwell smashes extraordinary ton

The bold declaration comes ahead of the looming World Cup, where Maxwell looks set to play a key role in Australia’s title defence, though likely not in the same No.3 spot Kohli has come to dominate in ODIs.

But Langer’s assertion was delivered with both a recognition that Kohli has achieved more individually than Maxwell in one-day cricket and a concession Kohli has played more than double the games.

Sunday's series finale in Dubai will mark Maxwell’s 100th ODI – his first 99 games have delivered just one century.

By contrast, Kohli, born just 22 days after Maxwell, already had 13 hundreds and an ODI average nearing 50 at the same stage of his career.

QUICK SINGLE 'Selfless' Maxi lauded after missed ton

Langer, having acknowledged how Maxwell has evolved as a cricketer, may take heart in the fact that the man he's compared him to has gotten significantly better in the second half of his career.

Since playing his 100th ODI, Kohli has averaged a staggering 68.73 and taken his century tally to 41 from 227 games.

"It's obviously a massive challenge isn't it?" Langer continued. "He (Maxwell) is now 30 years old and he's played 99 games, but we all see it - and everyone talks about it.

"He's got a huge amount of talent and now his challenge has always been to deliver on that talent. And he's done it in patches.

"He's such a valuable player for us because of everything he brings. It's not just his batting, it's his fielding, his bowling is really important. He's getting better with his bowling all the time.

"I think he bowled seven overs in the last World Cup final, so he keeps delivering on that. His fielding is world class.

"He's a good package isn't he?"

One of the major public criticisms Maxwell has had address in the past was that his training ethic lacked professionalism, with former skipper Steve Smith suggesting it was a factor in his exclusion from the one-day side during the 2017-18 summer.

Aussies remain perfect with tight win

Maxwell conceded he had "faked his way" through training during earlier stages of his career, but stressed he'd made vast improvements in how he fine-tunes his skills in recent years.

While Langer has previously demanded more hundreds from Maxwell, he has consistently voiced his approval of his training ethic and intensity and on Saturday suggested that his recent success has hinged on it.

"I think he's put a lot of emphasis into his practice as well. He's practicing with real purpose and he's getting the rewards for that. It's great to see,” said Langer.

"He's such an important part of our team. he brings energy to everything that he does - whether it's fielding, running between wickets, his strike rate.

"We saw it last night, he can come in when we were 4 down (for 140, before hitting 98) and under the pump. He can come in at the end - because his strike rate is 120 in ODIs, that's the highest by anyone in the world.

"If he can play those more responsible innings and do what he does, it's very important for us."

Qantas Tour of the UAE

First ODI: Australia won by eight wickets

Second ODI: Australia won by eight wickets

Third ODI: Australia won by 80 runs

Fourth ODI: Australia won by six runs

Fifth ODI: v Pakistan, March 31 in Dubai

(all matches begin at 10pm AEDT)