Glenn Maxwell makes huge call on career amid message about T20 World Cup
The 35-year-old has made a telling revelation around his hugely successful career in white-ball cricket.
Glenn Maxwell has reaffirmed his love affair with the Indian Premier League after revealing it will "probably be the last tournament I ever play". The big-hitting Aussie cricket star will feature again for the Royal Challengers Bangalore next season but is back at home preparing for the upcoming Big Bash season with the Melbourne Stars.
The Stars kick off their BBL season away to the Brisbane Heat on Thursday night and Maxwell will be high on confidence after starring for Australia in their recent ODI World Cup triumph in India. Maxwell's double century (201 not out) against Afghanistan was the highest ever score for an Aussie men's batter in ODI history, while his 40-ball ton against Netherlands was the quickest ever in a World Cup.
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Maxwell is still hungry for more World Cup success and is already eyeing off more glory with the national side in next year's T20 World Cup in the United States and the West Indies. Speaking to reporters at Melbourne Airport on Wednesday, Maxwell suggested the more Aussies that were plying their trade in India's domestic T20 competition, the better.
The 37-year-old has been a mainstay in the IPL for years now and says it is almost certainly where he will finish his distinguished cricket career. "The IPL will probably be the last tournament I ever play, as I will play the IPL until I can't walk anymore," Maxwell told reporters.
"I was talking about how good the IPL has been to me throughout my career; the people I've met, the coaches I have played under, the international players that you get to rub shoulders with, how beneficial to my whole career that tournament has been."
Glenn Maxwell wants more Aussies playing IPL
Maxwell says the IPL offers exposure to some of the greatest players in the sport and the opportunities to learn off the game's greats are invaluable - particularly for the next generation of talent coming through. The all-rounder says he hopes more Aussies can feature in next year's IPL, ahead of the T20 World Cup in June.
"You're rubbing shoulders with AB (de Villiers) and Virat (Kohli) for two months, talking to them while watching other games," Maxwell added. "It's just the greatest learning experience that any player could ask for. Hopefully a lot of our Australian players can get over to the IPL and get to work in slightly similar conditions to the West Indies, where it is a little bit drier, it will spin."
After winning their first T20 World Cup in 2021, Australia were unable to back it up at home when they hosted last year's edition, but have the chance to emulate England by winning next year's edition to hold both the T20 and ODI World Cups at the same time. "As soon as we won this World Cup, we all talked about the refocus towards the next one," Maxwell admitted.
"I'm hoping it's going be a really exciting summer for the BBL, with what is just around the corner. Hopefully a little bit more importance on putting your name up in the headlines for the right reasons and trying to push for those spots."
Maxwell admitted his chance of earning a long-awaited recall to Australia's Test side was slim but insisted he would be an asset for the tour of Sri Lanka in 2025. "Obviously, I would have loved to have played a Test at home," Maxwell told SEN Mornings.
"I'm quite understanding the circumstances of the current side. They're playing some really good cricket, they’re World Test champions. There are not a lot of spots up for grabs as far as Tests at home, but I know that when it does come to a subcontinent tour I can be a real viable option to hopefully fill a role in that side."
with AAP
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