An Emotional Farewell to ODI Cricket
Australian cricket legend Glenn Maxwell, also called “The Big Show,” has now decided to retire from One Day Internationals (ODI) in a stunning announcement with consideration to his long 13-year career. Following Australia’s exit from the Champions Trophy, he cited the “sustained physical strain from the format” alongside “a sense of responsibility toward the team” as his reasons for stepping away. “I was starting to feel like I was letting the team down a little bit with how my body was just responding to the conditions,” he said during a rather emotional episode on The Final Word podcast.
A Career Defined by Explosive Brilliance
Maxwell’s shows regarding ODIs also feature him pulling off stunts unlike anything the world has ever seen, achieving records and setting new bars of expectations in the process. The only things missing from the list of runs scored during his 149-match career are 4000 and, with it, 4 centuries alongside an impressive 23 fifties. He also managed to pull off 77 wickets, showcasing his all-around productive ability to change the games entirely.
Maxwell’s Heroics in Cricket World Cups
Maxwell also had an impact on Australia winning the World Cup in 2015 and 2023. His innings of 201 not out versus Afghanistan in the 2023 ODI World Cup is considered an all-time great ODI innings, considering he had to battle cramps midway into it. That inning not only extricated Australia out of a terrible position but also helped the team beat India in the finals, which further enhanced his reputation as a clutch performer.
The Step: Focusing on the Team and Younger Players
Maxwell’s retirement was not a rash decision that came to mind on the spot. He had already notified the chief selector of Australia’s team, George Bailey, that he wouldn’t be able to make it to the 2027 World Cup. “It’s time to start planning for people in my position to have a crack at it and make the position their own,” was what he told the media, but he surely wanted more young players to have sufficient time to integrate into the side”.
Physical Toll and Recent Challenges
Maxwell’s self-imposed break is believed to be prompted by his cumulative injuries, including a broken leg in 2022 and a finger injury that excluded him from IPL participation. He confessed that the burden of injuries affected his fielding and, to some degree, his contribution to the team, therefore forcing him into this selfless decision.
Legacy and the Road Ahead
In the words of Todd Greenberg, CEO of Cricket Australia, “The crowd came to see Glenn, so we are very fortunate because he single-handedly changed the perception of motion cricket, utterly transforming it into something tens of thousands wanted to see.” Maxwell continues to play for T20, Big Bash League, and other international T20 leagues, focusing now on the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup slated to be held in India and Sri Lanka.
