Australian all-rounder Glenn Maxwell has announced his retirement from One Day Internationals (ODIs), saying it’s time to give others a chance and focus on the next T20 World Cup. The 36-year-old, known for his explosive batting and handy off-spin, played 149 ODIs for Australia and was part of two World Cup-winning squads.
Maxwell made the announcement on the Final Word Podcast, explaining that his body was struggling to cope with the demands of ODI cricket.
“I felt like I was letting the team down a little bit with how body was reacting to the conditions. I had a good chat with (Chair of Selectors) George Bailey and I asked him what his thoughts were going forward,” he said.
“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, who recently returned from the IPL with a finger injury, added: “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 and almost play for selfish reasons.”
One of Maxwell’s most iconic performances came in the 2023 World Cup against Afghanistan. With Australia struggling at 7-91, Maxwell pulled off an unbelievable 201 off 128 balls—despite battling severe cramps in intense heat. His innings is widely considered one of the greatest in ODI history. That win helped Australia reach the final, where they defeated India in Ahmedabad to lift the trophy.
Known for his explosive style, Maxwell retires with a phenomenal ODI strike rate of 126—second only to Andre Russell. He has scored four centuries, 23 fifties, and taken 77 wickets in his ODI career.
In a statement, Cricket Australia said, “Maxwell has made the decision to prioritise his preparation for the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka, the Big Bash League and his other global commitments.”
Reflecting on his journey, Maxwell said: “I think back to right at the start I was picked ahead of my time and out of the blue. I was just proud just to be playing a couple of games for Australia. I thought I was just going to have that.”
“Since then, I have been able to go through the up and downs of being dropped, being brought back, playing in a few World Cups and being a part of some great teams.”
Cricket Australia CEO Todd Greenberg praised Maxwell’s impact: “Glenn’s ballistic batting has lit up the cricket world and been one of the cornerstones of Australia’s continued success in the 50 over game, including his heroic role in the 2023 World Cup triumph.”
Maxwell’s ODI chapter may be closed, but fans can still expect fireworks as he gears up for the 2026 T20 World Cup.
