QUICK TAKE | Seven Things to Know About Glenn Maxwell’s Retirement and His ‘Big Show’ Career
1. Why is Glenn Maxwell in the news?
The 38-year-old has announced his retirement from international cricket on The Final Word podcast, ending a 14-year Australia career. He is also leaving first-class and List A cricket. Having retired from ODIs in June 2025, he has now closed the T20I chapter too.
2. Why did he miss an MCG farewell?
Maxwell had hoped for a final appearance against England at his home ground. Australia’s selectors instead continued their focus on younger players ahead of the 2028 Olympics. He said there had been no pressure to retire and understood the team’s direction.
3. What do his career numbers show?
Across 286 internationals, Maxwell played 149 ODIs, 130 T20Is and seven Tests. He scored 3,990 ODI runs at a strike rate of 126.7 and 2,897 T20I runs at 154.4. His overall return included 10 centuries and 136 wickets, underlining his contribution beyond power-hitting.
4. How many World Cups did he win?
Three: the ODI World Cups in 2015 and 2023, and the T20 World Cup in 2021. He hit the winning runs in the 2021 final against New Zealand. His last Australia appearance came against Oman at the 2026 T20 World Cup, when he took 2/13 without batting.
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5. Why does his 201 still stand out?
Against Afghanistan at the 2023 World Cup in India, Australia were 91/7 chasing 292. Maxwell battled severe physical discomfort to finish unbeaten on 201 from 128 balls and secure a three-wicket victory. A seemingly lost chase became one of the tournament’s defining performances.
6. Which other batting feats deserve attention?
At the same World Cup, he smashed a century from 40 balls against the Netherlands, the tournament’s fastest hundred. He also finishes with five T20I centuries, matching Rohit Sharma. Two of Maxwell’s T20I hundreds came in India, adding another connection for Indian fans.
7. Will fans still see him play?
Yes. Maxwell will continue in franchise T20 cricket and is contracted to Melbourne Stars through the 2027–28 Big Bash season. He is managing his knee and wants more time to prepare his body for his remaining tournaments. His international retirement leaves that shorter-format career open.