Glenn Maxwell Retires from ODIs After 13 Years: A Career That Redefined White-Ball Cricket
After 149 matches, 3,990 runs, and two World Cups, Glenn Maxwell has walked away from ODI cricket, leaving behind a trail of unforgettable moments.
MELBOURNE — In a move that might have been expected, but still stings for many Australian fans, Glenn Maxwell has formally ended his One Day International career. After 149 matches in the format and nearly 4,000 runs to his name, the 36-year-old has stepped away from ODIs, citing physical limitations and long-term planning as the primary reasons.
Maxwell confirmed the decision on The Final Word podcast, just a few months after his jaw-dropping double century at the 2023 World Cup made headlines around the cricketing world. While he’ll still turn out in T20s for Australia, this announcement marks the close of a chapter that was anything but conventional.
From fast-tracked prodigy to unpredictable match-winner
Few cricketers have split opinion like Glenn Maxwell. Picked young and backed often, he entered the ODI scene in 2012 as a utility man—a bits-and-pieces player who could whack a few and turn his arm over. But it didn’t take long for the cricket world to realise Maxwell wasn’t just another flashy all-rounder. He was different.
Across 149 ODIs, he racked up 3,990 runs at a strike rate of 126.70, second only to AB de Villiers among players with significant run tallies. It wasn’t just about how fast he scored, but how he scored—reverse ramps, cross-batted swats, and strokes that barely seemed possible.
There were days when Maxwell was frustrated, losing his wicket to low-percentage shots. But when he clicked, he was unplayable. Australia didn’t just win when Maxwell fired—they bulldozed.
The Afghanistan epic — one for the ages
It’s impossible to talk about Maxwell’s ODI legacy without rewinding to November 7, 2023. On a steamy Mumbai night at the Wankhede, Australia were 91 for 7 chasing 292 against Afghanistan. What followed defied logic.
Cramping so badly he could barely stand, Maxwell smashed 201 not out off 128 balls, becoming the first Australian to score a double hundred in ODIs. The innings was less a rescue act and more a solo miracle. The scenes—him collapsing mid-stroke, then picking himself up to carve the next ball for six—will live forever in World Cup folklore.
Even Pat Cummins, who was on the non-striker’s end, could only laugh in disbelief.
“At one point I told him to retire hurt. He told me, ‘Just get me back on strike.’ I’ve never seen anything like it,” Cummins recalled later.
“Body just wasn’t coping anymore”
The signs were there. Maxwell sat out parts of the 2025 Champions Trophy due to muscle fatigue and had been open about his struggles with recovery between matches.
“I knew the ODI format wasn’t something I could keep committing to. I felt like I was holding others back,” Maxwell admitted on the podcast.
He also hinted at Australia’s long-term planning, acknowledging he likely wouldn’t be around for the next 50-over World Cup in 2027. Rather than hang on for sentiment, he’s opted to walk away when the memory of his greatness is still fresh.
Australia’s white-ball core begins to fade
Maxwell’s departure follows a familiar pattern. David Warner, Steve Smith, and Marcus Stoinis have all either retired or taken a step back from ODIs over the past year. The 2015 World Cup-winning core that dominated for nearly a decade is now giving way to a younger, leaner generation.
In that sense, Maxwell’s timing feels deliberate. Letting others rise, rather than clinging on for one last ride.
Former selector George Bailey paid tribute, saying:
“Glenn redefined what the modern ODI all-rounder could be. His ability to shift momentum with either bat, ball, or fielding was unmatched.”
Still plenty of fire in the shortest format
This isn’t a full stop. Maxwell remains available for T20 Internationals, and with the 2026 T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka on the horizon, he’s far from done in the green and gold.
He’s also expected to return to franchise action after missing IPL 2025 with a finger injury. The Big Bash League, The Hundred, and SA20 are all likely destinations.
And wherever he plays, the focus will be the same—freedom, flair, and absolute mayhem.
The enigma we never stopped watching
Maxwell’s ODI career was anything but smooth. He never averaged 50. He had lean patches, was dropped, doubted, and reshuffled. But when people come back to his legacy, they won’t remember the statistics. They’ll remember the audacity.
He played like a kid in a backyard with no rules. One ball a switch hit, the next a stand-and-deliver drive into the second tier. He was the chaos agent teams feared but fans adored.
And now, the show moves on.
There may never be another Glenn Maxwell in ODI cricket—not because of his numbers, but because of his nerve. Because he made the improbable feel inevitable.
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Arun Upadhayay is a sports journalist and former district-level cricketer with over four years of experience in event production and digital content. Currently freelancing with the India Today Group, Arun brings a deep understanding of sports and storytelling. His work blends expert analysis, live event insights, and engaging coverage of the game.
- Arun Upadhayayhttps://hindustanherald.com/authors/arun/
- Arun Upadhayayhttps://hindustanherald.com/authors/arun/
- Arun Upadhayayhttps://hindustanherald.com/authors/arun/
- Arun Upadhayayhttps://hindustanherald.com/authors/arun/
