Australia all-rounder Glenn Maxwell has announced his retirement from one-day internationals (ODIs) to focus on preparing for next year’s T20 World Cup, Cricket Australia (CA) confirmed on Monday.
Maxwell made the decision to prioritise the T20 format and his commitments to franchise leagues ahead of the tournament, which will be held in India and Sri Lanka.
Reflecting on his career, the two-time World Cup winner said, “I was picked ahead of my time and out of the blue. I was just proud to be playing a couple of games for Australia. Since then, I’ve experienced the ups and downs of being dropped, recalled, and competing in multiple World Cups as part of great teams.”
The 36-year-old has played 149 ODIs, scoring 3,990 runs at a strike rate of 126.7 — second only to Andre Russell’s 130.22. His unbeaten 201 from 128 balls against Afghanistan in the 2023 World Cup, played despite cramping, is widely regarded as one of the greatest innings in ODI history.
Maxwell, who last played Test cricket in 2017, revealed on the Final Word Podcast that the physical demands of 50-over cricket, especially following a leg injury in 2022, had affected his fielding performance during this year’s Champions Trophy.
“I felt like I was letting the team down with how my body was coping,” he said. After discussing his future with chairman of selectors George Bailey, Maxwell concluded it was time to step aside and allow younger players to take his spot in the squad.
CA CEO Todd Greenberg praised Maxwell’s contribution, calling him “one of the most exciting and influential players in ODI history.” He added, “Glenn’s explosive batting has been key to Australia’s success in the 50-over format, highlighted by his heroic performance in the 2023 World Cup win.”
