End of an Era as Glenn Maxwell Retires from International Cricket

Australian all-rounder Glenn Maxwell, popularly known as the 'Big Show', has announced his retirement from international cricket, bringing an end to a remarkable 14-year career. The 38-year-old will also step away from 50-over and four-day domestic cricket for Victoria but continue playing franchise T20 cricket.

Maxwell announced his decision on Tuesday through an appearance on The Final Word podcast. He had already retired from One-Day Internationals in June 2025 to concentrate on T20 cricket. His final international appearance came against Oman during the 2026 T20 World Cup, where he claimed two wickets for 13 runs without getting an opportunity to bat.

Maxwell represented Australia in 149 ODIs, 130 T20Is and seven Tests, scoring 7,226 international runs and claiming 136 wickets. He was part of Australia's 2015 and 2023 ODI World Cup-winning teams and the 2021 T20 World Cup-winning squad. He also shares the record for the most T20I centuries, with five, alongside former India captain Rohit Sharma.

Among his most memorable achievements was his extraordinary 201 not out against Afghanistan in the 2023 ODI World Cup. Battling severe cramps, he rescued Australia from 91/7 to chase down 292 runs. He also smashed a 40-ball century against the Netherlands in the same tournament, setting a World Cup record at the time.

Maxwell said he wanted to prioritise fitness and rehabilitation to remain active in the remaining tournaments of his career. He had hoped for a farewell appearance at the Melbourne Cricket Ground but understood Australia's focus on introducing younger players ahead of the 2028 Olympics.

Despite his international retirement, Maxwell will continue playing for the Melbourne Stars in the Big Bash League, with his franchise contract running through the 2027-28 season.