Glenn Maxwell's Surprising Retirement: What's Next for the Star?

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Glenn Maxwell retires from international cricket at 38, ending his Australia career. He'll still play in the BBL and reflects on his journey. Get the full story.

Glenn Maxwell has retired from international cricket at 38, and he's also stepping away from first-class and List A cricket. But don't worry, he's not leaving the game entirely. He'll still suit up for the Melbourne Stars in the Big Bash League through the 2027-28 season. ### Maxwell's Last Match for Australia Maxwell stopped playing ODIs in June last year but remained available for T20Is. His final appearance for Australia came in the 2026 T20 World Cup against Oman in February. He took two wickets in that match but didn't get a chance to bat. Australia didn't make it past the group stage, which was a tough end to the tournament. Maxwell said the decision came after several conversations with team management before and after the World Cup. He described those talks as open-ended and made it clear there was no pressure from the team to step aside. Australia's series in Bangladesh afterward showed younger players grabbing their opportunities and performing well, which signaled a new direction for the team. > "It's never easy to say goodbye, but I've had a hell of a ride. I'm grateful for every moment in the green and gold." – Glenn Maxwell Maxwell had hoped for a farewell game at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. England is set to tour Australia soon for a white-ball series that includes a T20I in Melbourne. He understands the team's focus on the 2028 Olympics and the need to give younger players exposure to international pressure that a BBL match can't always provide. ### Maxwell's Career Record in T20Is and Tests Maxwell's T20I numbers are impressive: 130 matches, 2,897 runs at a strike rate of 154.42, and 51 wickets. His five T20I centuries are a world record he shares with India's Rohit Sharma. He also won two ODI World Cups and one T20 World Cup, and he hit the winning runs in the 2021 T20 World Cup final. In Test cricket, Maxwell played seven matches, the last in 2017. He scored 339 runs with a highest score of 104 against India in Ranchi. ### Maxwell's Domestic and Franchise Plans After Retirement Maxwell isn't slowing down in franchise cricket. He captained the Belfast Wolves to the final of the inaugural European T20 Premier League in September. Just five days later, he played two matches for Victoria in the One-Day Cup. His last game for Victoria was the final one-day match of that run, and telling his teammates was harder than he expected. He got emotional addressing the group and credited the state side for their support throughout his career. Now, Maxwell plans to focus on his fitness. He was ready to get a knee injection to prepare for the BBL, but once the England series option closed, he chose to focus on rehabilitation instead. He's planning 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 is where I've felt most myself," he said. "It's been my home for a long time." For more cricket news and updates, follow JeetWin Blog.

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