Australian all-rounder Glenn Maxwell on Monday (June 2, 2025) retired from ODIs to focus on next year’s T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka, saying that he did not want to “play for selfish reasons” given how his body has been struggling to hold up.The 36-year-old explosive batter Glenn Maxwell and often underestimated off-spin bowler played 149 ODI matches for Australia including what is regarded by many as the greatest one-day innings of all-time.
Glenn Maxwell had an impressive ODI career, playing 149 matches and scoring 3,990 runs. He helped Australia win two World Cups during his time. However, he will still be available to play in international T20 matches and also plans to continue his career in T20 leagues around the world.
Glenn Maxwell’s stellar ODI career
Glenn Maxwell was a part of Australia’s 2015 and 2023 World Cup-winning campaigns, having played a pivotal role with his all-round skills in both triumphs. He will be forever remembered for his mind-boggling double century against Afghanistan during the ODI World Cup 2023 at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.
An explosive batter, Maxwell scored his runs at an average of 33.81 and a strike rate of 126.70. His best effort in ODIs, an unbeaten 201 against Afghanistan in the 2023 World Cup, is regarded as arguably the greatest innings played in ODIs. Apart from that, he scored three other centuries and 23 half-centuries. As a bowler also, he was a handy offspinner, picking four-fers four times in his career. A stellar fielder, he has also has 91 catches to his name in the format.
He retired with 149 appearances in the 50-over format, where he scored 3990 runs at an average of 33.81 with four hundreds and 23 fifties to his name. Glenn Maxwell was also handy as a part-time off-spinner as his 77 scalps, including 4 four-wicket hauls, are a testament to his ability to provide crucial breakthroughs for the team.
Glenn Maxwell scored an unbeaten 201* off just 128 balls, smashing 21 fours and ten sixes as he became the first batter to score a double hundred batting second in ODIs. Courtesy of his heroic innings, he helped Australia recover from a precarious position of 91/7 and took them over the line in 292-run chase with little support from Pat Cummins from the other end.
He also holds the record for the fastest hundred in World Cup history as he reached the landmark in just 40 balls against the Netherlands during the 2023 edition in Delhi. Glenn Maxwell’s strike rate of 126 is also the second highest in ODI cricket, behind only the West Indies’ Andre Russell
The 36-year-old 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.
Glenn Maxwell opens up his mind after announcing retirement from ODI cricket
Opening up on his decision, Glenn Maxwell said the physical toll of ODI cricket, along with a potentially career-ending leg injury, was beginning to affect his fielding ability, which he sensed at the Champion’s Trophy. He revealed that he had a chat with Cricket Australia Chairman of Selectors George Bailey and told him that he isn’t going to make it to the 2027 ODI World Cup and the board must start looking ahead.
“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. 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 told the Final Word Podcast.
Furthermore, he also mentioned that he didn’t want to play a couple of more series for selfish reasons to provide enough time for the team management to look for his replacements for the next ODI World Cup.
“Hopefully they get enough of a lead-in to hang onto that role. 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. They are moving in such a clear direction so this gives them the best look at what the line-up is leading into that next World Cup. I know how important that planning is,” he added.
Glenn Maxwell’s last ODI appearance came against India in the Champions Trophy earlier this year. A finger injury has ruled Glenn Maxwell out of the ongoing IPL. Glenn Maxwell was recently ruled out of the IPL 2025 season due to a finger injury. Representing Punjab Kings, the all-rounder played seven matches, scoring 48 runs and taking four wickets.
Now that Glenn Maxwell has announced his journey in longer format a end looking ahead, Glenn Maxwell is expected to continue shining in T20 matches, especially with the 2026 T20 World Cup set to take place in India and Sri Lanka.
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