Glenn Maxwell Retires from T20 International Cricket for Australia

Glenn Maxwell has retired from T20 international cricket, the 20-over format, for Australia. He made the announcement on The Final Word podcast, where he joined hosts Adam and Geoff to share the news.

Maxwell played 130 T20 internationals for Australia. He scored 2,897 runs at an average of 28.97, which means he scored about 29 runs for each time he was dismissed. His strike rate was 154.42, a measure of runs scored per 100 balls faced. He also took 51 wickets and 62 catches. His highest T20 international score was an unbeaten 145 against Sri Lanka in 2016.

His international career went well beyond the shortest format. He played seven Tests, the five-day game, and 149 one-day internationals, the 50-over version. He was part of two Australian one-day World Cup title wins. He stepped away from one-day internationals in June 2025, and ESPN reported that his body could no longer cope with the toll of repeated injuries. Reuters reported at the time that he was focusing on the T20 World Cup. He played for Australia at that tournament in India and Sri Lanka earlier in 2026.

Maxwell has now also retired from first-class cricket, the longer multi-day game, according to Cricket Australia's news site. The Guardian reported that he has also retired from state cricket for Victoria. The Guardian said he will keep playing franchise Twenty20 cricket, including for the Melbourne Stars in the Big Bash League (BBL), the domestic T20 competition in Australia.

The retirement comes after a difficult stretch of form and fitness. In a May 2026 piece, Cricinfo noted he had made just one half-century, a score of 50 or more, in his previous 20 T20 innings. Back in September 2025, he had fractured his forearm after being hit by a delivery from Mitch Owen in the nets. Josh Philippe replaced him for a three-match T20 series in New Zealand.

Earlier in 2026, Maxwell also opted out of the Indian Premier League (IPL), the high-profile franchise T20 league in India, ending a 13-season run in the competition.

For fans, the change is mainly about where they will see him. Australia's T20 side will go on without him, and his contribution to that team is now part of the record. His 145 not out against Sri Lanka remains the highest T20 international score of his career.