The creator of what may be the greatest ODI innings ever, Glenn Maxwell, has declared that he will be retiring from the 50-over international format with immediate effect. However, he will still be available for T20 internationals, and it appears like he will continue till the T20 World Cup next year.
Following Australia’s elimination from the Champions Trophy semi-final earlier this year, Glenn Maxwell, 36, has joined fellow two-time ODI World Cup winner Steven Smith in retiring from ODI. Maxwell is unlikely to be chosen to play red-ball cricket again, even if he hasn’t officially retired from Test cricket yet.
In a lengthy interview on the Final Word Podcast on Monday, Glenn Maxwell announced his retirement, stating that the physical strain of playing ODI cricket had become too much for him after he suffered a broken leg in 2022 and pulled up sore after games at the 2017 Champions Trophy.
“I felt like I was letting the team down a little bit with how body was reacting to the conditions,” Glenn Maxwell stated.
“I asked [Australia’s chair of selectors], George Bailey, what he believed about the future during our pleasant conversation.
I told him, ‘I don’t think I am going to make it, it’s time to start arranging for individuals in my position to have a run at it and make the position their own.'” We discussed the 2027 World Cup. I hope they have enough lead time to maintain that position.
“I used to say that if I still felt like I could play, I wouldn’t give up my place. I didn’t want to play purely for selfish motives and wait for a few series.
“They have the best view of the lineup heading into the next World Cup because they are heading in such a clear way. I am aware of how crucial that preparation is.
Glenn Maxwell leaves ODI cricket with an incredible record, although his raw stats of 3990 runs at 33.81 and 77 wickets at 47.32 from 149 games do not fully reflect his abilities.
Glenn Maxwell, who made his ODI debut in 2012 after playing in just 14 List A games for Victoria, acknowledges that he was promoted to Australia’s ODI team much before he was ready. However, he scored the fastest fifty runs off of just 19 balls in 2011 in just his sixth game for his state. Prior to Jake Fraser-McGurk breaking it in 2023 on his route to the fastest List A century ever, the record held.
However, it was a sign of things to come for his career in ODI. Glenn Maxwell strike-rate of 126.70 is the highest in ODI cricket history, aside from Andre Russell, and none of the players with more than 2000 runs have a strike-rate greater than 117.05.
Glenn Maxwell made four hundreds, including his incredible 201 not out against Afghanistan in Mumbai during the 2023 World Cup, which was the first double century by an Australian in an ODI and the first by any player in a chase. He maintained that strike-rate while averaging 33.81 as a finisher. After Australia had fallen to 91 for 7 chasing 292, he reached his maiden double-century as a non-opener at No. 6.
Glenn Maxwell remarked of his best innings, “I’m very lucky that I was able to have my moment.” “Everything that you’ve worked hard for, the peak of your powers, being able to put it in front of the world to see and it’s almost like saying, this is the best of me, you can either take it or leave it, but this is all I’ve got.”
Earlier in the same competition, Maxwell defeated the Netherlands in Delhi and recorded the fastest ODI World Cup century off just 40 balls. In the 2015 World Cup match against Sri Lanka in Sydney, he also achieved the fourth-fastest ODI World Cup century off 51 balls.
In the Covid-affected 2020 series, Maxwell’s other ODI century came during a victorious chase against England at Old Trafford. He and Alex Carey pulled off an incredible chase of 303 after Australia had fallen to 73 for 5.
“I think that was probably one of my favourite memories,” added Maxwell. “Alex Carey had a bit of a rough start to his innings, but it was a lot of fun out there after he started to get the ball in the middle a couple of times. And it was all worthwhile to be a part of his first one-day hundred out there and to help win that series despite everything that had happened over the [previous] few months, including not playing cricket for a while, keeping everyone in a bio-secure bubble, and constantly performing quarantine.”
In addition to his hundreds, he played numerous other significant innings during pivotal moments in ODI cricket. As Australia sought a Champions Trophy record of 352, he hit 32 not out off 15 balls in his second-to-last ODI innings. After getting two crucial wickets with the ball in the 2015 World Cup quarterfinal match against Pakistan, he scored an undefeated 44.
His bowling contributions to Australia are far more significant than his stats indicate. He took six wickets at 36.33 and an economy rate of 5.70 when playing as Australia’s only spinner in the 2015 World Cup victory. He was also the second spinner in the 2023 victory.
He bowled a crucial spell in Australia’s crucial opening victory of the campaign against Sri Lanka, gave up just 4.81 runs per over in 68.3 overs during the 2023 World Cup in India, and took the crucial wicket in the final to stop a charging Rohit Sharma inside the powerplay and help put Australia on track for victory. In 2014, he notably won an ODI against Pakistan by bowling a double-wicket maiden in the last over while only defending two runs.
Throughout his career, Glenn Maxwell had important roles in the outfield and the ring, earning him a reputation as one of Australia’s top all-around fielders.
“Glenn Maxwell will be known as one of the one-day game’s most dynamic players, who had key roles in two ODI World Cup victories,” Bailey stated. “He has extraordinary natural talent and skill. His longevity, underappreciated ball skills, and field energy have all been exceptional. His love and dedication to playing for Australia is another noteworthy aspect.
He still has a lot to give Australia in the T20 format, thankfully. If all goes according to plan, he will play a key role in the upcoming year as we prepare for the World Cup in early 2019.
Todd Greenberg, CEO of Cricket Australia, stated that Australia owed Glenn Maxwell for his contributions to the format.
“Congratulations to Glenn Maxwell on what has been one of the most exciting and influential one day international careers in the format’s history,” stated Greenberg. “Australia’s sustained success in the 50-over format, including his valiant contribution to the 2023 World Cup victory, has been largely attributed to Glenn’s explosive batting, which has enthralled the cricket community.
“Like other greats of the game, Glenn Maxwell has drawn large crowds to the fields just to watch him bat, and after witnessing his amazing array of shots put opposition attacks to the sword, kids have been motivated to pick up a bat.
“Australian cricket is indebted to Glenn for his ODI exploits and excited that he will now focus on our quest to win the ICC T20 World Cup next year.”
Although Glenn Maxwell is still recovering from a broken finger he sustained during the IPL, he should be ready for Major League Cricket to begin in the United States in less than two weeks. He also appears to be in the Australian T20I team for the five-match Caribbean tour that begins on July 20 after the three-Test series.
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