The Big Show Bows Out: Glenn Maxwell’s 14-Year Australia Journey Ends in International Cricket
Australian cricket has bid farewell to one of its most unpredictable and entertaining match-winners, with Glenn Maxwell announcing his retirement from international cricket at 38. After 14 years in the national colours, the “Big Show” has called time on his Australia career, bringing an end to a journey defined by fearless batting, remarkable all-round ability and some unforgettable moments on the biggest stage.
Xtratime Webdesk: Australian cricket has bid farewell to one of its most unpredictable and entertaining match-winners, with Glenn Maxwell announcing his retirement from international cricket at 38. After 14 years in the national colours, the “Big Show” has called time on his Australia career, bringing an end to a journey defined by fearless batting, remarkable all-round ability and some unforgettable moments on the biggest stage.
Maxwell had already stepped away from ODI cricket in June 2025, but his final international appearance came for Australia in the 2026 T20 World Cup against Oman. He finishes with 149 ODIs, 130 T20Is and seven Tests, while also being part of three World Cup-winning Australian teams, the 2015 and 2023 ODI World Cups and the 2021 T20 World Cup.
His numbers tell only part of the story. Maxwell scored 3,990 ODI runs at a strike rate of 126.7, and 2,897 T20I runs at 154.42. In T20Is, he struck five centuries, joining Rohit Sharma as the only player to reach that mark. He also claimed 136 international wickets across formats.
But his legacy will forever be linked to moments when Australia needed something extraordinary. The greatest came at the 2023 ODI World Cup against Afghanistan in Mumbai. Battling severe cramps and struggling to move freely, Maxwell produced an unbeaten 201 from 128 balls, carrying Australia from 91/7 to a remarkable three-wicket victory.
There was also his 145 not out from 65 balls against Sri Lanka in T20I cricket in 2016, while he famously hit the winning runs in Australia’s 2021 T20 World Cup triumph.
Maxwell will not disappear from the game. He plans to continue in franchise T20 cricket, including with Melbourne Stars in the Big Bash League. But for Australia, the curtain has finally fallen on a player whose passion, personality and fearless style made him impossible to forget.
