Glenn Maxwell announces retirement from ODIs to focus on T20 World Cup

Australia's Glenn Maxwell has retired from ODIs to focus on the 2026 T20 World Cup and global T20 leagues. Maxwell, who was instrumental in Australia’s 2015 and 2023 World Cup wins, ends his ODI career with 3,990 runs and 77 wickets.

Hyderabad: Match-winning Australian allrounder Glenn Maxwell has retired from one-day international cricket to focus on Australia’s campaign to win the T20 World Cup next year.

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.

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The explosive batter and often underestimated off-spin bowler played 149 ODI matches for Australia including what is regarded by many the greatest one-day innings of all-time.

Maxwell came in against Afghanistan at the 2023 World Cup with his side reeling at 7-91. In a high-pressure situation and battling severe cramps in searing heat, Maxwell took control.

His 202-run partnership with Pat Cummins, who made 12, got Australia to the 293-run target. Maxwell made 201 from just 128 balls.

Australia went on to win the World Cup, beating favourites India in Ahmedabad.

Maxwell’s strike rate of 126 is the second highest in ODI cricket, behind only the West Indian heavy hitter Andre Russell, including four hundreds and 23 half centuries along with 77 wickets.

Aside from his feats in Mumbai, Maxwell has played many incredible games across his decorated one-day career which included two ODI World Cup wins.

For his part, Maxwell said that Maxwell says when he thinks back to right at the start he was picked ahead of his 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,” he said.

Maxwell said the physical toll of ODI cricket, on the back of a potentially career ending leg injury, was beginning to affect his ability to field at his best, which he sensed at the Champion’s Trophy, with another two years until the next ICC ODI World Cup.

“I felt like I was letting the team down a little bit with how my 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 told the Final Word Podcast.

“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’. 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,” Maxwell said.