Glenn Maxwell announces retirement from international cricket

Australian all-rounder Glenn Maxwell has brought the curtain down on his international career, announcing his retirement from T20Is alongside List A and first-class cricket.

The 38-year-old, who had previously called time on his ODI career in June last year, will now focus on extending his playing days in domestic T20 competitions.

Maxwell will remain available for the Big Bash League (BBL), having signed a contract with Melbourne Stars that runs until the conclusion of the 2027-28 season.

What numbers define Maxwell's T20I career?

Maxwell retires with 2,897 runs from 130 T20I appearances, making him Australia's third-highest run-scorer in the format. His impressive strike rate of more than 154 reflects the aggressive approach that made him one of the most dangerous batters in international cricket.

He also finishes with five T20I centuries, sharing the world record for the most hundreds in the format with India's Rohit Sharma.

Why did Maxwell decide to retire from T20Is?

Speaking on The Final Word podcast, Maxwell revealed that discussions surrounding his international future had been taking place for an extended period, particularly around Australia's T20 World Cup campaign.

"We probably had numerous discussions before and after the T20 World Cup," Maxwell said on The Final Word podcast. "And it was pretty open-ended. There wasn't any pressure from [Australia team management] and we decided to sort of leave the door open. There was a couple of series that were coming up [in which] they were going to look to the future, and we saw that in Bangladesh with guys getting their opportunity and performing really well."

Did Maxwell hope to receive a farewell match at the MCG?

Australia's upcoming white-ball commitments include a T20I against England in Melbourne, raising the possibility of Maxwell receiving an international farewell at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).

The prospect had crossed his mind, particularly given his long association with the venue and the Melbourne Stars. However, he accepted the team's decision to prioritise younger players.

"[There was, I] suppose, a small hope or discussion that I might have been able to potentially get a send-off game at the MCG. But [I] can completely understand the direction they're going with this squad. There's going to be a lot of change, I suppose, over the next 12 to 24 months with the Olympics coming up [in 2028], and they've got to make sure that they get their eyeballs on a few young guys coming through and making sure that they're getting exposed to international pressure that you probably can't always get from a BBL fixture.

"So probably just the small fairy tale that you sort of see these, your heroes and idols, sort of go through. You start to sort of let your mind drift towards that, and probably no other format I probably would have asked for it, except for this one, where I feel like it's been, it's almost felt like home over the last 15 years.

"The option was there, but I was sort of ready to push the button on getting an injection on my knee to make sure I was ready for the BBL. So there was sort of a positive either way. And as soon as that door was shut, I was able to start to put some time back into my body. Eight weeks of solid rehab again to make sure I'm strong and ready for the BBL coming up.

"It's probably a time where I need to spend a little bit more time investing in the body to make sure I can get through the remaining couple of tournaments I've got in my career."

When did Maxwell play his final international match?

Maxwell's international career concluded against Oman in February during the T20 World Cup. It was Australia's final fixture of the tournament, with the former champions suffering an early exit after failing to progress beyond the group stage.

Although his final appearance did not deliver the ending Australia would have wanted, Maxwell leaves behind a significant contribution to the national side.

Which major ICC titles did Maxwell win with Australia?

Maxwell was an integral member of several successful Australian teams, featuring in the squads that lifted the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup in 2015 and 2023.

He also celebrated T20 World Cup glory in 2021, adding another major international honour to his collection.

With his international career now over, Maxwell will turn his attention towards the BBL, where Melbourne Stars’ supporters can continue watching one of Australia's most entertaining cricketers in action.