Glenn Maxwell has bowed out from international cricket, leaving behind a trail of destruction razed by his most blistering innings and unconventional shots. Yet for all the outrageous highlights and gamechanging knocks, the 38-year-old’s legacy is tainted by an unshakeable feeling that he remained an unfulfilled talent. The Big Show was denied a farewell appearance for Australia when overlooked for their T20 squad to face England this month before bringing the curtain down on his international career.
But the three-time World Cup winner already has a long list of show-stopping performances to point to including arguably the greatest ODI knock of all time. The career-defining performance brought together all the ingredients that made Maxwell one of a kind. Impeccable hand-eye coordination.
Inventive stroke play and a 360-degree game. A knack for saving his best for the biggest stages and for when his team needed him most. And brute force made to look like a natural gift but finely crafted behind the scenes.
Maxwell was unbeaten on 22 as Australia slumped to 91 for 7 in pursuit of a 292-run target in a must-win game against Afghanistan at the 2023 ODI World Cup. There was little hint of what was to come with Australia on the brink of an early exit until captain Pat Cummins joined Maxwell at the crease and the all-rounder unleashed a stunning knock to turn the contest on its head. After suffering from cramps that left him barely able to walk and collapsing to the turf with 10 overs still remaining, Maxwell needed fluids and long periods of treatment just to continue batting.
With his feet stuck to the crease like they were deep in cement he somehow plundered 201 not out from 128 balls with 21 fours and 10 sixes to lift Australia into the semi-finals and one step closer to what had seemed the most unlikely World Cup triumph. Maxwell had been out of sorts when he stepped in for the injured Aaron Finch to open the innings in a T20 international for the first time in September 2016. He immediately looked at home at the top of the order with a 65-ball mauling of Sri Lanka in Pallekele.
Maxwell set the tone as he dipped into his bag of tricks with a reverse sweep for the first six of the match. He cleared the rope another eight times and added 14 boundaries as he first reached a half-century in 27 balls, then took only 22 more deliveries to bludgeon his maiden T20I ton. Maxwell carried his bat to finish unbeaten on 145, while Australia’s 263 for 3 surpassed Sri Lanka’s record score in a T20I amassed against Kenya, and equalled the then highest total in the T20 format.
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