CricBengal.com | Sports Desk
Australian all-rounder Glenn Maxwell has announced his retirement from international cricket, bringing an end to his career in the national colours. The 38-year-old, however, is not walking away from the game altogether. He will continue playing for the Melbourne Stars in the Big Bash League (BBL).
Maxwell announced his decision on the The Final Word podcast on Monday night, November 2. Alongside international cricket, he has also decided to step away from four-day and 50-over cricket for Victoria. His T20 franchise career, including his commitment to the Melbourne Stars, will continue.
A 286-match international career
Maxwell represented Australia in 286 international matches: seven Tests, 149 One-Day Internationals and 130 T20 Internationals. Across those appearances, he scored 7,226 runs and claimed 136 wickets.
He made 339 runs in seven Test matches, including his only Test century against India in Ranchi in 2017. However, it was in limited-overs cricket that he established himself as one of Australia’s most explosive all-rounders.
His ability to accelerate an innings, attack different types of bowling and contribute with his off-spin made him a valuable option across formats.
World Cup winner and the unforgettable 201
Maxwell was part of Australia’s ODI World Cup-winning teams in 2015 and 2023. He also played a key role in Australia’s 2021 T20 World Cup triumph, hitting the winning runs in the final.
One of the defining moments of his career came against Afghanistan at the 2023 ODI World Cup. Australia were struggling at 91 for seven while chasing 292 when Maxwell produced an extraordinary unbeaten 201 from 128 balls to take his side to victory.
Despite battling severe cramps and difficulty moving freely, he turned the match around with an innings that became one of the tournament’s most memorable performances.
Earlier in the same World Cup, Maxwell had also struck a century from just 40 balls against the Netherlands, setting the record for the fastest century in men’s ODI World Cup history.
A remarkable T20I record
Maxwell scored 2,897 runs in 130 T20 Internationals at a strike rate of 154.42. His five T20I centuries place him jointly at the top of the format’s century list alongside India’s Rohit Sharma.
He had already retired from ODI cricket in June 2025 but continued representing Australia in T20Is. His final international appearance came against Oman at the 2026 T20 World Cup. Maxwell took two wickets in that match but did not get an opportunity to bat.
Why has Maxwell decided to retire?
Maxwell said the decision was not made under pressure from Australia’s team management. Discussions about his future had taken place before and after the T20 World Cup, with the possibility of giving younger players opportunities also part of the broader picture.
Australia are looking ahead to a period of transition before the 2028 Olympics and other major white-ball tournaments. Maxwell acknowledged the importance of exposing emerging players to international cricket.
He also indicated that managing his fitness and looking after his body had become increasingly important as he considers the remaining stages of his playing career.
The all-rounder had held some hope of receiving a farewell international appearance at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. However, he understood Australia’s direction and accepted that such an opportunity might not come.
CricBengal Analysis: What will Australia miss?
Maxwell’s value to Australia went beyond his aggregate runs and wickets. He offered a rare combination of power-hitting, improvisation and useful spin bowling. In limited-overs cricket, he could change the direction of a match within a few overs.
His unbeaten 201 against Afghanistan remains a powerful example of that ability. The innings demonstrated how an individual performance can transform a match even when the team appears close to defeat.
Australia will now need to identify players who can provide a similar balance of middle-order aggression and all-round contribution in T20 cricket. Maxwell’s retirement therefore marks not only the end of a distinguished career but also the loss of a distinctive role in the national side.
Although his international journey is over, his continued involvement with the Melbourne Stars means fans will still have the opportunity to watch him in the BBL.
Published by: CricBengal.com/BH
