Glenn Maxwell Retires from International Cricket, Set to Continue Playing in Big Bash League
Australian star all-rounder Glenn Maxwell has announced his retirement from international cricket, bringing the curtain down on a career spanning nearly 15 years. The 38-year-old had already retired from One-Day International (ODI) cricket in June last year and has now decided to step away from T20 Internationals, List A and first-class cricket as well.
However, Maxwell will continue playing competitive cricket in the Big Bash League (BBL) for Melbourne Stars. He remains contracted with the franchise until the end of the 2027-28 season.
Maxwell finishes his T20 International career with 2,897 runs from 130 matches at a strike rate of over 154. He is Australia’s third-highest run-scorer in the format. He also scored five T20I centuries, sharing the world record with India’s Rohit Sharma.
Speaking about his retirement on the podcast ‘The Final Word’, Maxwell revealed that discussions about his international future had been going on for some time. He said there had been several conversations before and after the T20 World Cup, but there was no pressure from the Australian team management to make an immediate decision.
Maxwell explained that Australia were looking to build for the future by giving opportunities to younger players in upcoming series. He also pointed out that several newcomers had performed well after receiving opportunities during the series against Bangladesh.
Meanwhile, England’s upcoming white-ball tour of Australia includes a T20 International at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). Maxwell admitted that he had a small hope of receiving a farewell game at his home ground before retiring from international cricket.
He said that the thought of playing one final match at the MCG had crossed his mind, but he fully understood the direction in which the Australian team was moving. With the 2028 Olympics approaching, he believes the team needs to give young players greater exposure to international cricket over the next 12 to 24 months.
Maxwell also acknowledged that the pressure and experience of international cricket cannot always be replicated in the Big Bash League. Having represented Australia in T20 cricket for around 15 years, he said the format had almost become a second home for him.
Another factor behind his decision was his ongoing knee concerns. Maxwell is now focusing on his fitness and rehabilitation to ensure that he is fully prepared for the upcoming Big Bash League season. He plans to undergo a knee injection and complete around eight weeks of intensive rehabilitation.
The Australian all-rounder said he needed to devote more time to his physical condition to remain fit for the remaining tournaments of his career.
Notably, Maxwell’s final international appearance came against Oman in February during the T20 World Cup. The match proved to be his last in Australian colours, as the team failed to progress beyond the group stage of the tournament.
