Maxwell's best: Five standout international performances

By Divy Tripathi

Glenn Maxwell brought an end to his prolific international career of more than 14 years after he announced his retirement.

Featuring in seven Tests, 149 ODIs, and 130 T20Is, Maxwell was known for his heavy-hitting and rapid strike-rate.

His 3990 runs in ODIs came at a strike-rate of 126.7, the best-ever in the format for anyone who faced over 800 balls.

He finished as the third-highest run-getter for Australia in men's T20Is, his 2897 runs coming at a strike-rate of 154.42.

Here's a look at Maxwell's finest performances over the years.

1. 201* v Afghanistan, ICC Men's Cricket World Cup, 2023 (ODI)

Perhaps the strongest contender for the greatest-ever ODI knock there is, Maxwell's magical night during the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2023 in Mumbai has become the stuff of legends ever since it was woven in November 2023.

Coming off the high of three back-to-back wins, including over Pakistan and Sri Lanka, Afghanistan had gained momentum just at the right time to challenge Australia.

The Aussies, too, had found themselves back on the feet after two early losses in the tournament, but had been hampered due to loss of their all-rounder Maxwell just ahead of their previous group game against England. Maxwell had suffered an unexpected injury after falling off a golf cart prior to the game.

However, the side received a boost when Maxwell was declared fit for the Afghanistan encounter.

Ibrahim Zadran's century set up the base, while Rashid Khan's fireworks towards the end helped Afghanistan reach 291/5.

The wicket remained good for batting, and Australia needed a good start to get things going. But just like against England, Australia's openers struggled against the new ball, with Naveen-ul-Haq and Azmatullah Omarzai on the charge. The duo made further dents in the Australian middle-order, and as Rashid Khan joined in on the act, the Australians were in deep trouble at 91/7.

Maxwell had already arrived and found his way in, however, the batter seemingly fell to Noor Ahmad, being trapped leg before in the 22nd over. The batter reviewed the call, and after realising that the ball had pitched in line had started walking back, only to find that it was bouncing over the wicket. 

A reprieve was all that Maxwell needed, as he unleashed a flurry of counter-attacking fours and sixes. Having just returned from injury, Maxwell struggled under the Mumbai humidity with cramps but wouldn't be denied that evening. 

His belligerent knock of 201* had 21 fours and 10 sixes, as Australia overhauled the target with 19 balls and just three wickets to spare. Maxwell's eighth wicket stand with Cummins was of 202 runs of which the latter scored merely 12* off 68.

2. 145* v Sri Lanka, Australia Tour of Sri Lanka, 2016 (T20I)

Maxwell opened as a batter in just a handful of games in T20I cricket but was more than capable of teeing off from the first ball and setting up winning totals for his side.

He displayed this skill with aplomb in the opening T20I of the series against Sri Lanka in 2016.

Opening the batting with David Warner, Maxwell let Warner take the lead in run-scoring in the initial overs but after the left-handed batter got out, took over, and unleashed ferocious strokeplay in Pallekele.

Batting through the innings, Maxwell faced 65 balls and smashed an unbeaten 145 with 14 fours and nine sixes to his name. This helped Australia to the then record-high T20I total of 263/3 and eventually an 85-run win.

3. 62* v South Africa, South Africa tour of Australia, 2025 (T20I)

In one of his final hurrahs before his retirement, Maxwell stood tall against a comprehensive South African challenge in Cairns. 

In the series decider, a brilliant South African batting effort set Australia a target of 173.

Then Kagiso Rabada, Corbin Bosch and Kwena Maphaka troubled the Australian batting, with the exception of Mitchell Marsh (54).

Marsh however fell in the eleventh over, and soon Australia were 88/4, needing 85 from 55 balls against a good bowling attack.

Maxwell took charge from his end, scoring 62 of the required ask, unleashing eight fours and two sixes in the 36 balls he faced, even as wickets fell from the other end.

Eventually, Maxwell got the better of Lungi Ngidi off the penultimate ball of the innings with a boundary, and won Australia the contest by just two wickets. This win also gave them the series 2-1.

4. 104 v India, Border-Gavaskar Trophy, 2017 (Test)

Maxwell had a brief Test career, featuring in seven games, but had a magnificent Test ton that stood out as his achievement as a long-format player.

Australia entered the Ranchi Test having yielded their advantage in the series. After a stellar win courtesy Steve Smith's special batting in Pune, India struck back to tie the series in Bengaluru.

Searching for a first series win in India since 2004, Australia needed a strong total to set up their base.

Glenn Maxwell bats in an intersquad match in 2017 // Getty Images //

The wicket had turn but batters could hold on if they showed patience. Steve Smith continued his brilliant run with another disciplined outing. Supporting him was Australia's blockbuster batting star in a different avatar. Maxwell hit nine fours and two sixes, but more importantly batted over four hours and 185 deliveries to get to his only Test hundred. This partnership helped Smith reach 178 and Australia reach 451.

The next-highest score after Smith and Maxwell was a mere 44.

Although a Cheteshwar Pujara double ton helped India overcome Australia's advantage, the game eventually finished in a draw.

The series remained alive at 1-1, and Maxwell showed that he could bat with grit should be need be, even in the most demanding format of the game.

5. 2/41 v Pakistan, Australia tour of UAE, 2014 (ODI)

Maxwell could be more than handful with his turn and guile as a spinner.

This was on show during Australia's ODI win over India in Rajkot, where the all-rounder picked a career-best 4/40, running through India's top-order including Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Shreyas Iyer. And it was against his bowling that Rohit Sharma lost his wicket in the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup Final 2023, which eventually helped restrict India to a moderate total in Australia's triumphant run.

But unarguably his skill was never better realised than against Pakistan in the third ODI between the two sides in the UAE in 2014.

Maxwell had scored 20 off 22 in the first innings and got to work around with the ball but Pakistan held their own in a modest chase of 231 on a sticky wicket.

A sturdy ninth-wicket stand between Sohail Tanvir and Zulfiqar Babar ensured that Pakistan needed just two runs to win the game off the final over in Abu Dhabi.

Maxwell got the job to deliver the final six balls, with a Pakistan win seemingly a formality.

However, what followed was a double wicket maiden act with batters struggling to get their bats on the ball and any attempt to score resulting in wickets. 

Maxwell successfully accounted for both Tanvir and Mohammad Irfan and helped Australia to an unbelievable one-run win off the very final ball of the game.