Australian star all-rounder Glenn Maxwell, also known as the "BIG SHOW," has announced his retirement from the ODI format, bringing an end to an illustrious career on 2nd June. The all-rounder leaves a legacy marked by explosive batting, versatile bowling, dynamic fielding, and possibly the greatest ODI batting performance ever. Maxwell has decided to retire from the format to pave the way for the emerging talent ahead of the 2027 World Cup. The 36-year-old will be available for the upcoming T20 World Cup and will continue to represent his country in the T20I format. Maxwell leaves the ODI format with 2 ODI World Cups in which the all-rounder played a very important role for his nation. Maxwell cited concerns over his declining fielding performances and put his team in front of himself; that’s why he said it’s better to retire now than to keep playing for selfish reasons.
Maxwell’s retirement announcement
Glenn Maxwell announced his retirement in an interview with Final Word Podcast and mentioned that the physical toll on his body in ODI cricket has become too much and how difficult it has been since 2022 when the all rounder broke his leg. Maxwell also mentioned how he pulled up sore after matches during the recent Champions Trophy where Australian reached the semi Finals.
Maxwell also said that
"I felt like I was letting the team down a little bit with how body was reacting to the conditions," Maxwell said. "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'. Hopefully they get enough of a lead-in to hang onto that role.
"I always said I wasn't going to hand my position over if I felt like I was still good enough to play. I didn't want to just hold on for a couple of series and almost play for selfish reasons.
"They are moving in such a clear direction so this give them the best look at what the line-up is leading into that next World Cup. I know how important that planning is."
Australia will now be looking at players to replace their star all-rounder, who has been a consistent member of the team since 2012, when he was added to the team quite early after playing just 14 List A games for Victoria. In his only sixth match for the senior team, the all-rounder announced his arrival in some style as he made the fastest fifty in Australia’s cricket history off just 19 balls. His record was then broken by another promising Australian youngster, Jake Fraser McGurk, in 2023.
End to a glorious career
Glenn Maxwell leaves as an Australian legend . The allrounder played a total of 149 matches for the team and is a two time world cup winner in which he contribute significantly both in 2015 and 2023.
Matches-149
Runs; 3990
Average: 33.81
Strike rate: 126.71
Centuries- 4
Half Centuries: 23
Highest score-201
Wickets-77
Maxwell bids the ODI format as one of the best to ever grace the cricketing field, and his innings of 201 against Afghanistan is the best ODI innings of all time. Also, he leaves with the second-highest strike rate in ODI cricket history for players who have more than 2000 runs in the format.
The magical night at Wankhede
Whenever one thinks about Glenn Maxwell, their mind will directly think about that magical night in Wankhede Stadium where Maxwell smashed a double century against Afghanistan in a must-win game. Maxwell scored 201 runs, smashing 21 fours and 10 sixes when he was not able to even walk and was standing only on one leg. Afghanistan posted a total of 291, and the Australian batting order collapsed as they were 91-7 at one point, but won the game in 46.5 overs at the end, thanks to Glenn Maxwell. The game looked all over but Maxwell had differnet plans that day and after completing his century around the 130 mark, Maxwell started suffering cramps and was finding it hard to run between th wickets so he derived a plan of not running at all because when you can smash sixes and fours why would you run and played the greatest inniongs only whilst standing on one leg. At one point He collapsed mid pitch holding his hamstring and everyone thought that he would retire hurt at that point but after that Maxwell unleashed the beast inside him and started hitting sixes all over the park only on one leg and took the Australian side over the line alone with shots smashing shots like reverse scoops, inside out sixes over cover, sixes over mid wicket and back foot punches all whist standing on one leg. He also became the first ever Australian to smash a double century in men’s cricket. Many cricketing legends applauded his innings, and the Australian legend Ricky Ponting stated
“ I’ve never seen anything like that-it’s better than Kapil Dev’s 175 , better than anything we’ve witnessed in white ball cricket.”
His captain, Pat Cummins, said that
“It was the greatest thing I’ve ever seen on a cricket field.”
If cricket had a statue for bravery, it would be Glenn Maxwell at Wankhede on one leg, smashing world-class bowlers all over the field.
Maxwell will now be looking forward to representing Australia in T20 cricket and the fans will be hoping to see some more Glenn Maxwell moments on the field and ODI crickert has lost one of its greatest entertainer.
About the Author
Arpit Sharma is a sports writer and journalism student at Chandigarh University, with a strong interest in sports analysis and storytelling. His writing combines match insights with a fresh, fan-first perspective that brings the game to life.
Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Vygr's views.
With inputs from agencies
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