GAWAH News Desk | November 3, 2026
Australian all-rounder Glenn Maxwell has retired from international cricket, bringing the curtain down on a 14-year career defined by inventive batting, explosive hitting and match-changing performances. The 38-year-old also ends his first-class and List A careers with Victoria, but he is not retiring from all cricket: he plans to continue playing franchise T20 cricket, including for the Melbourne Stars in the Big Bash League.
Maxwell announced the decision in an episode of The Final Word cricket podcast released on Tuesday. He had already retired from one-day internationals in June 2025. His final appearances for Australia came at the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, including the match against Oman in February.
What has Glenn Maxwell retired from?
Maxwell has called time on his international career, which means he will no longer represent Australia in T20 internationals. He has also retired from Victoria’s List A one-day and four-day first-class competitions. His decision does not end his franchise T20 career. Cricket Australia says he remains contracted to the Melbourne Stars through the end of the 2027–28 Big Bash season.
What are Glenn Maxwell’s international career numbers?
Maxwell played 286 international matches for Australia across three formats:
- Tests: 7 matches.
- One-Day Internationals: 149 matches and 3,990 runs at a strike rate of 126.7.
- T20 Internationals: 130 matches and 2,897 runs at a strike rate of 154.4.
- T20I centuries: 5, a men’s record he shares with India’s Rohit Sharma.
- Short-format wickets: 128 in ODIs and T20Is combined, according to Reuters.
His T20I tally makes him Australia’s third-highest run-scorer in the format, behind David Warner and Aaron Finch, according to Cricket Australia. His five centuries also place him alongside Rohit Sharma in a rare category of players who repeatedly turned a short-format innings into a match-defining performance.
Which performances defined the ‘Big Show’?
Maxwell’s most celebrated innings came against Afghanistan at the 2023 ODI World Cup in Mumbai. With Australia struggling at 91 for seven while chasing 292, he produced an unbeaten 201 from 128 balls to carry his team to a remarkable three-wicket victory. The innings, played despite severe cramps, became one of the defining individual performances of that tournament.
He was also part of three World Cup-winning Australian teams: the 2015 and 2023 men’s ODI World Cup sides and the 2021 men’s T20 World Cup team. In the 2021 final, Maxwell hit the winning runs as Australia defeated New Zealand.
His value was not limited to big scores. Maxwell’s off-spin, athletic fielding and ability to improvise under pressure gave Australia a flexible option in white-ball cricket. His unusual range of shots made him difficult for bowlers to plan against, particularly in T20 matches.
Why has Maxwell decided to retire now?
Maxwell said he wanted to invest more time in his body so he could remain fit for the remaining tournaments of his playing career. He had discussions with Australia’s team management before and after the 2026 T20 World Cup, while selectors also began giving younger players opportunities in the national side.
He had held out some hope of a farewell appearance at the Melbourne Cricket Ground during Australia’s upcoming T20 series against England. That did not materialise, but Maxwell said he understood the team’s focus on developing its next generation of players.
Will Glenn Maxwell play in the Big Bash League?
Yes. Maxwell is expected to continue with the Melbourne Stars in the Big Bash League. Cricket Australia reports that he is contracted to the club until the end of the 2027–28 season. The Stars’ opening match of the upcoming campaign is scheduled for December 18 against Adelaide at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
His role may now be concentrated on franchise competitions, where his experience and attacking style remain valuable. His retirement from international and state cricket should therefore not be mistaken for an immediate end to his playing career.
What does his retirement mean for Australia?
Australia lose an experienced white-ball player whose skills could change the direction of a match in a few overs. The transition also creates room for younger all-rounders to develop ahead of the next cycle of international tournaments. Maxwell’s combination of batting range, off-spin and fielding will be difficult to replace with one player, even as Australia refreshes its squad.
For fans, his legacy will be tied to both the extraordinary highlights and the different way he approached limited-overs batting. The unbeaten 201 against Afghanistan, his five T20I hundreds and his contribution to three World Cup-winning teams will remain central to his international story.
Frequently asked questions
Has Glenn Maxwell retired from all forms of cricket?
No. He has retired from international cricket and from Victoria’s List A and first-class competitions. He will continue playing franchise T20 cricket, including for the Melbourne Stars.
How many international matches did Glenn Maxwell play?
He played 286 international matches: seven Tests, 149 ODIs and 130 T20 internationals.
How many T20 international centuries has Maxwell scored?
He scored five T20I centuries, sharing the men’s record with India’s Rohit Sharma.
What was Glenn Maxwell’s famous 201-run innings?
He scored 201 not out from 128 balls against Afghanistan at the 2023 ODI World Cup in Mumbai, rescuing Australia from 91 for seven in a chase of 292.
Will Maxwell play for Melbourne Stars?
Yes. He remains contracted to the Melbourne Stars through the end of the 2027–28 Big Bash season.
Sources
- Cricket Australia: Maxwell calls time on T20Is, first-class and List A cricket
- International Cricket Council: Maxwell’s international career and World Cup record
- Reuters: Maxwell announces international retirement
- ABC News Australia: Maxwell retires from international cricket
Featured image: Representative cricket stadium photograph. Photo by Zoshua Colah / Unsplash. The image is illustrative and does not depict Glenn Maxwell or an Australia match.
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