Glenn Maxwell retires from ODI cricket

Glenn Maxwell, the architect of arguably the greatest ODI innings ever played, has announced his retirement from the 50-over international format effective immediately but he will remain available for T20 internationals and looks set to continue until next year's T20 World Cup.

Maxwell, 36, joins fellow two-time ODI World Cup winner Steven Smith in ODI retirement after Australia's semi-final exit from the Champions Trophy earlier this year. Maxwell has not formally retired from Test cricket yet but is unlikely to be selected to play red-ball cricket again.

Maxwell announced his retirement in a long-form interview on the Final Word Podcast on Monday and revealed that the physical toll of ODI cricket had become too much on the back of his broken leg in 2022, having pulled up sore after matches during the recent Champions Trophy.

"I felt like I was letting the team down a little bit with how body was reacting to the conditions," Maxwell said. "I had a good chat with [Australia chair of selectors] George Bailey and I asked him what his thoughts were going forward.

"We talked about the 2027 World Cup and I said to him 'I don't think I am going to make that, it's time to start planning for people in my position to have a crack at it and make the position their own'. Hopefully they get enough of a lead-in to hang onto that role.

"I always said I wasn't going to hand my position over if I felt like I was still good enough to play. I didn't want to just hold on for a couple of series and almost play for selfish reasons.

"They are moving in such a clear direction so this give them the best look at what the line-up is leading into that next World Cup. I know how important that planning is."

Maxwell bows out with an extraordinary record in ODI cricket although his raw numbers of 3990 runs at 33.81 and 77 wickets at 47.32 from 149 games do not do him justice.