He is the fourth player, after David Warner, Steve Smith and Marcus Stoinis, from the 2023 World Cup batch to retire from the format.
Glenn Maxwell has announced his retirement from ODIs, ending a 13-year glorious career. Having made his ODI debut in 2012, Maxwell scored 3990 runs at an average of 33.81 and a 126.70 strike rate in 136 innings, including 23 fifties and four centuries.
Among all the batters with at least 3000 runs, no other batter has a higher strike rate than Maxwell in ODI history. Further, he has 77 wickets at 47.32 runs apiece in 119 innings, comprising four four-wicket hauls.
“I felt like I was letting the team down a little bit with how body was reacting to the conditions,” Maxwell said on the Final Word Podcast. “I had a good chat with [Australia 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’.”
Injuries have plagued Maxwell’s career lately, starting with a broken leg during a party in November 2022, which ruled him out for an extended period. Later, he sustained a grade two tear in his left hamstring in November 2024 before fracturing his finger during a training session with Punjab Kings (PBKS) earlier in this season’s IPL.
Glenn Maxwell was part of Australia’s World Cup-winning campaign in 2015 at home and 2023 in India and played some of the finest knocks by an Aussie batter. He holds the record for the fastest century in the World Cup, just 40 balls against the Netherlands in 2023, and the fourth-fastest in the tournament, in 51 balls against Sri Lanka in 2015.
Maxwell also played one of the finest knocks in ODI history, hitting a magnificent double century against Afghanistan in the World Cup 2023. Australia were 91/7 during a 292-run chase, and Maxwell produced a knock for the ages to become the first non-opener to complete a double ton.
During the World Cup 2015, Maxwell scored 324 runs at an average of 64.80 and a 182.02 strike rate in six innings, including two fifties and a century. Further, he snared six wickets at 36.33 runs apiece and conceded only 5.73 runs per over in eight innings while playing as a specialist spinner to help Australia clinch the title.
Similarly, Maxwell was instrumental in Australia’s 2023 World Cup-winning campaign, scoring 400 runs at an average of 66.66 and a strike rate of 150.37 in nine outings, with two centuries. He also took six wickets at an average of 55 and a 4.81 economy rate in eight innings, emerging as one of the best all-rounders in the competition.
Simply, replacing Glenn Maxwell is impossible, given what he brought to the table and how he balanced the Australian side. He is the fourth player, after David Warner, Steve Smith and Marcus Stoinis, from the 2023 World Cup batch to retire from the format.
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This leaves Australia in a mini-transition as they prepare for the 2027 World Cup. They have a few quality players, but it’s never easy to fill the gap of four quality players.
They have a few pace-bowling all-rounders, but the lack of enough quality spin-bowling all-rounders is palpable, and that’s where Maxwell will be missed. Fortunately, Australia have a bit of time to try a few combinations and pinpoint the players to take the reigning champions forward.
The likes of Cooper Connolly and Matthew Short should have more opportunities to showcase their superior talent, and they must grab the chances to ensure a smooth transition. Whoever comes, replacing Glenn Maxwell will be impossible, and he goes down as one of the finest ever in the format.
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