Glenn Maxwell's Surprising Retirement Decision at 38

Dr. Annelies De Vos · 2026-11-03

Glenn Maxwell has retired from international cricket at 38. The Australian all-rounder also ended his first-class and List A careers. But he's not done with cricket entirely. Maxwell remains available for the Melbourne Stars in the Big Bash League, where his contract runs through the 2027-28 season. So you'll still see him lighting up the BBL. ### Maxwell's Last Match for Australia Maxwell stepped away from ODIs in June last year but stayed available for T20Is. He played in the 2026 T20 World Cup, where Australia failed to advance beyond the group stage. Australia's final game against Oman in February was his last for the national side. He took two wickets in that match and didn't bat. He said the decision followed several conversations with team management before and after the tournament. Maxwell described those talks as open-ended and said the team management didn't pressure him to leave. Australia then looked ahead, and the series in Bangladesh showed younger players taking their chances and performing well. Maxwell had hoped for a farewell game at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. England will tour Australia soon for a white-ball series that includes a T20I in Melbourne. He said he understood the direction the team is taking, with the 2028 Olympics approaching and a period of change expected over the next 12 to 24 months. He added that younger players need exposure to international pressure that a BBL match can't always provide. ### Maxwell's Career Record in T20Is and Tests Maxwell played 130 T20Is for Australia and scored 2,897 runs at a strike rate of 154.42. He also took 51 wickets in the format. His five T20I centuries are a world record he shares with India's Rohit Sharma. He won two ODI World Cups and one T20 World Cup during his international career. He also hit the winning runs when Australia won the T20 World Cup in 2021. In Test cricket, Maxwell played seven matches, with the last coming in 2017. He scored 339 runs, and his highest score was 104 against India in Ranchi. ### Maxwell's Domestic and Franchise Plans After Retirement Maxwell has stayed active in franchise cricket. He captained Belfast Wolves to the final of the inaugural European T20 Premier League in September. Five days later, he played two matches for Victoria in the One-Day Cup. He said his last game for Victoria was the final one-day match of that run. Telling his teammates about the decision was harder than he expected, and he became emotional while addressing the group. He credited the state side for the support it gave him throughout his career. Maxwell said he now plans to spend more time on his fitness. He had been ready to get an injection in his knee to prepare for the BBL, but once the England series option closed, he chose to focus on rehabilitation instead. He plans eight weeks of rehab to get ready for the tournament. He said no other format would have been a more fitting place for a send-off than T20 cricket, which he described as feeling like home over the past 15 years. > "T20 cricket has been my home for 15 years. It's the format where I feel most alive." – Glenn Maxwell So what's next for Maxi? A lot of rehab, some franchise cricket, and plenty of time in the BBL. And who knows? Maybe we'll see him in the commentary box someday. But for now, let's appreciate the memories he gave us in Australian colors. For more cricket news and updates, keep an eye on our blog.