How Glenn Maxwell Defined Australia’s World Cup Legacy in 2015 and 2023

Glenn Maxwell has been an integral part of the Australian cricket team across the limited-overs format for the past few years. He was one of the major reasons why the team dominated easily even in the World Cups, but one after another, the legends have started to sign off. Players like David Warner, Steven Smith, Marcus Stoinis, and many more have already announced their retirement from the limited-overs format.

And recently, Glenn Maxwell also announced his ODI retirement, creating a void in the team. He played a crucial role in the team’s wins in the 2015 and 2023 World Cups, leading them to wins in the crucial matches. Even in the 2023 World Cup, the Australian team had just one main spinner in the form of Adam Zampa, but Maxwell made sure that he gave his best with both ball and bat. Let’s have a look at his contribution to the team in the 2015 and 2023 World Cups.

Maxwell in the 2015 World Cup

The Australian team came out on top in the 2015 World Cup, as they defeated New Zealand in the finals to clinch the title on their home turf. For most of the fans, it could be Mitchell Starc, Mitchell Johnson, Steven Smith, or David Warner, as the reason why the team won the World Cup. But the contribution of Glenn Maxwell in the important matches can not be ignored, as he contributed with both bat and ball in several games.

Coming off as an all-rounder for the team, Maxwell started to dominate from the first game against England. Australia batted first in the match, as Aaron Finch made an impressive century to help the team reach the score of 342. Glenn Maxwell also played an impressive cameo towards the end, scoring 66 runs off 40 balls with 11 fours, showcasing his dominance over the English bowlers. This helped the Australian team to win the El Clasico by 111 runs.

With a great start in the first match, Maxwell went on to regain his form after two bad games in the match against Afghanistan. In this match also, Australia batted first and scored 417 runs, with David Warner as the top scorer with 178. But Glenn Maxwell also played well in the death overs, scoring 88 runs off just 39 balls, at a strike rate of 225, with 6 fours and 7 sixes. He also took the wicket of Mohammad Nabi and conceded just 21 runs, allowing Australia to win by 275 runs.

The 32nd match of the World Cup was between Australia and Sri Lanka, and this game helped Maxwell showcase his batting prowess. Since the openers failed to perform, Maxwell took the matter into his own hands and, with the help of Shane Watson, created a partnership of 160 runs off just 82 balls. He also went on to score 102 runs off just 53 balls, with 10 fours and 4 sixes. Australia ended up winning the match by 64 runs, as Maxwell won the POTM award.

In the quarter-final match against Pakistan, he went on to showcase his bowling abilities in the important match. Pakistan were bowled out for 213, as Maxwell took the wickets of Misbah-ul-Haq and Umar Akmal. Later on, he also helped the Australian team to finish the match by scoring 44 runs off just 29 balls, leading them to the semi-final match. Thereafter, the team continued its domination to win the 2015 World Cup title hosted on their home turf.

Maxwell hit some explosive shots in 2015, which gave Australia a boost in the middle phase of matches, and his duties as an all-rounder helped the team greatly. His 102 against Sri Lanka and his fast 88 against Afghanistan proved how well he could swing the match towards Australia.

Maxwell in the 2023 World Cup

After failing to reach the finals in the 2019 World Cup, the Australian team returned to its form in the 2023 World Cup hosted in India. They ended up defeating the Indian team in the final match by 6 wickets to clinch another World Cup title. Players like Travis Head, Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, and many more had given contributions to the same, but Glenn Maxwell was probably the major reason why they reached the qualifier stage.

Glenn Maxwell played his last ODI World Cup for Australia at his best, as his brilliant performances came in the games against the Netherlands and Afghanistan in the League stages. In the match against the Netherlands, Maxwell scored 106 runs off just 44 balls, with 9 fours and 8 sixes, scoring runs across every corner of the ground. Australia ended up winning this game by a massive margin of 309 runs, marking a big margin victory for them, and Glenn Maxwell was given the POTM award.

However, Australia had their qualification chances hanging by a thread, as they went against Afghanistan in a do-or-die match at the Wankhede Stadium. Afghanistan scored 291 runs, as Ibrahim Zadran powered them with his 129 off 143 balls. Coming out to chase, the Australian team lost quick wickets and stood at 7 down for 91 runs. But Glenn Maxwell, playing with an injured leg, scored 201 runs off 128 balls with 21 fours and 10 sixes, which helped the Australian team to win the match. Along with that, Maxwell broke the record for most runs in an innings by a batter in the World Cup and also won the POTM award.

After dominating in the League stages, the Australian team easily made it to the finals against India at Ahmedabad. Rohit Sharma had given an aggressive start to the team batting first, and Australia knew they needed to take his wicket. Glenn Maxwell bowled the last over of the powerplay, and even after conceding 10 runs off the first few balls, he was able to take the wicket of Rohit Sharma, with an astonishing catch by Travis Head. This wicket came out to be a game changer, as Australia went on to restrict the Indian team to a score of 240 runs.

Besides the wicket of Rohit Sharma, Glenn Maxwell also went on to score the match-winning runs for the Australian team, as he went down to bat after the wicket of Travis Head. Scoring just 2 runs, he was finally able to help the Australian team lift another World Cup title. Many fans still think that the team might not have even reached the semi-finals if Maxwell had gotten out early in the match against Afghanistan. This makes it clear that Maxwell played an important role in the Australian cricket team even in the 2023 World Cup win.

In 2023, Maxwell’s double century against Afghanistan was soon seen as an instant classic, not only because of the scores but for the special conditions of that game. Under intense cramps and as Australia was in deep trouble at 91 for 7, he managed one of the most accurate rescue efforts in World Cup history. That innings did much more than win the game; it also saved Australia’s hopes in the tournament.

The Lasting ODI Legacy of Glenn Maxwell

Glenn Maxwell made a significant difference when Australia needed him most, so he stood out from the other players. Both in 2015 and in 2023, what set Maxi apart and made him Australia’s key player were his fearless attitude, different style of play, and ability to do well with the bat and the ball. Madrid fans didn’t always mention his name as the favourite, but his performances in crucial matches made a huge impact on their success. Maxwell proved to be a hero because he saved the day when hope was dying out. His immediate retirement from the ODI format creates a void in the Australian cricket team, which will surely be tough to replace.