The international cricketing world bid farewell to two dynamic limited-overs stars on Monday, with South Africa’s Heinrich Klaasen announcing his complete retirement from international cricket, while Australia’s Glenn Maxwell called time on his One Day International (ODI) career.
Klaasen Ends International Journey to Focus on T20 Leagues
After seven years of an explosive international career, Heinrich Klaasen (33) is officially done with international cricket. His withdrawal from the scene comes months after the CSA (Cricket South Africa) left him off its final list of central contracts, and he had already retired from Test cricket.
Klaasen played for South Africa in 60 ODIs, 4 Tests and 58 T20Is, but it was through the white-ball format, especially One Day cricket (ODI), that Klaasen left a permanent mark. He was feared as a middle order hitter, and had multiple unforgettable knocks, most famously his 174 off 83 against Australia in Centurion, one of the greatest ODI innings in modern ODI history.
He played his final match for South Africa in the 2025 Champions Trophy semi-final loss to New Zealand. Reflecting on his decision, Klaasen said, “It took me a long time to decide what’s best for me and my family… To have played with the Proteas badge on my chest was and will always be the biggest honour in my career.”
With the global T20 calendar heating up, Klaasen is set to continue his career in franchise leagues, including stints with the Seattle Orcas in Major League Cricket (MLC) and Manchester Originals in The Hundred.
Glenn Maxwell Retires from ODIs, Commits to T20Is
Meanwhile, Australia’s Glenn Maxwell has retired from ODI cricket but will remain available for T20 internationals as he targets the 2026 T20 World Cup. The 36-year-old all-rounder ends his ODI career with 3990 runs at a strike rate of 126.70 — the second highest in history — along with 77 wickets from 149 matches.
Maxwell announced his retirement from ODIs after Australia’s semi-final loss at the Champions Trophy in June, primarily due to his body not keeping up with 50-over cricket’s physical demands after a serious leg injury in 2022.
“I felt like I was letting the team down a little bit with how my body was reacting,” Maxwell revealed. He also noted that it was time to make way for younger players ahead of the 2027 ODI World Cup.
His ODI career is studded with highlights, none greater than his unbeaten 201 against Afghanistan in 2023 ODI World Cup — the first-ever double century in a chase and from a No. 6 batter. He was also instrumental in Australia’s 2015 and 2023 World Cup victories, contributing with the bat, ball, and as a world-class fielder.
With two players about to exit international formats, one partially and the other fully, the exits are a reflection of the changing cricket landscape, where franchise leagues and T20s are becoming the focus of many modern cricket careers.
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