Glenn Maxwell Announces ODI Retirement to Focus on T20 World Cup
Australian cricket’s explosive all-rounder Glenn Maxwell has announced his retirement from One Day International (ODI) cricket with immediate effect. The 36-year-old has decided to shift his focus to the T20 format, with the next ICC Men’s T20 World Cup scheduled to be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka in early 2026.
Maxwell’s last appearance in the 50-over format was during the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, where Australia was eliminated in the semi-finals. He concluded his ODI career with 149 appearances, amassing 3,990 runs at an average of 33.81, including four centuries and 23 half-centuries. A dynamic off-spinner, he also claimed 77 wickets, featuring four four-wicket hauls.
Announcing his decision, Maxwell revealed that the physical demands of ODI cricket, particularly after a potentially career-ending leg injury in 2022, were impacting his performance, especially his fielding. He cited his experiences during the recent Champions Trophy as a key factor.
“I felt like I was letting the team down a little bit with how my body was reacting to the conditions,” Maxwell told ‘The Final Word Podcast’. He explained that he had a discussion with Cricket Australia’s Chair of Selectors, George Bailey, about his future. “We talked about the 2027 World Cup and I said to him ‘I don’t think I am going to make that, it’s time to start planning for people in my position to have a crack at it and make the position their own’.”
Maxwell emphasized that he didn’t want to continue playing “for selfish reasons” if he couldn’t perform at his best or contribute fully to the team’s long-term plans. “I always said I wasn’t going to hand my position over if I felt like I was still good enough to play. I didn’t want to just hold on for a couple of series… They are moving in such a clear direction so this gives them the best look at what the line-up is leading into that next World Cup,” he added.
A vital member of Australia’s victorious 2015 and 2023 ODI World Cup campaigns, Maxwell is renowned for his game-changing abilities. His ODI career will be forever immortalized by his breathtaking unbeaten 201 off just 128 balls against Afghanistan during the 2023 World Cup in Mumbai. Battling severe cramps, he single-handedly rescued Australia from 91/7 to chase down 292, an innings widely regarded as one of the greatest in ODI history.
During the same tournament, he also smashed the record for the fastest World Cup century, reaching the milestone in just 40 balls against the Netherlands in Delhi. Maxwell retires with an ODI strike rate of 126.70, the second-highest among players with at least 2000 runs, behind only West Indies’ Andre Russell.
Cricket Australia confirmed Maxwell’s decision, stating he will prioritise his preparation for the 2026 T20 World Cup, the Big Bash League, and other global T20 commitments. His retirement from ODIs follows that of other long-serving Australian limited-overs players like David Warner, Steve Smith, and Marcus Stoinis in recent times.
