Australian head coach Andrew McDonald is now planning new roles for all-rounder Cameron Green following Glenn Maxwell’s sudden exit from One-Day International (ODI) cricket. Maxwell announced his retirement from the 50-over format in June 2025 after a legendary 13-year career.
The retirement of Glenn Maxwell and a rebuild of Australia’s ODI team ahead of the World Cup in 2027 has left the possibility open for Tim David to be considered, but he says he has no immediate plans to play any List A cricket to push his case for a recall… pic.twitter.com/p97vDxcKzC
— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) July 8, 2025
Consequently, the national team must find a way to fill the massive gap left by the superstar finisher before the 2027 ODI World Cup. McDonald confirmed that the coaching staff is already looking at various “options” to fit Green into the future white-ball lineup.
The Impact of Glenn Maxwell’s ODI Retirement
Glenn Maxwell finished his ODI career with 149 matches and nearly 4,000 runs. He decided to step away because his body struggled to recover between long matches. Specifically, he noticed that his physical fitness declined during the Champions Trophy in Pakistan. He felt that he could no longer give his best as a fielder and batter over 50 overs.
Maxwell’s departure marks the end of a major era for Australian cricket. He joins other retired stars like Steve Smith, David Warner, and Marcus Stoinis. This leaves Australia with few of its most experienced middle-order players. So the team needs young talent like Cameron Green to take more responsibility.
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Andrew McDonald Backs Cameron Green for a Bigger Role
Despite a difficult period in international cricket, Andrew McDonald remains a firm believer in Cameron Green. Green struggled during the last Ashes series, where he averaged just 24.42 with the bat. However, McDonald argues that Green’s domestic form proves he is ahead of the pack. Green currently holds an incredible average of over 53 in Sheffield Shield cricket.
McDonald believes it is only a matter of time before Green finds success at the highest level. “There are a lot of good all-rounders who took time to settle in like Mitchell Marsh and Shane Watson,” he said. The coach wants to give Green the security he needs to improve without worrying about his spot. McDonald also wants to manage Green’s workload to enable him to play all three formats of the game.
Exploring Tactical Options for the 2027 World Cup
The retirement of senior players has created several openings in the batting order. McDonald specifically mentioned that Usman Khawaja’s retirement vacates the number five position. This opening gives Australia incredible flexibility to move players around.
One exciting option involves playing two all-rounders in the same team. McDonald suggested that Cameron Green and Beau Webster could both feature in the starting XI. Webster impressed selectors by scoring 71 not out and taking three wickets in his only Ashes appearance.
“It is something we’re looking at”
Tim David hasn’t made himself available for ODI selection, but Australia coach Andrew McDonald says he could potentially slot in as a finisher pic.twitter.com/vzj5t9tVi1
— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) May 25, 2026
On the other hand, the selectors are also considering other options for the finishing roles. Tim David, Ashton Turner, Matthew Short are all in the mix to help fill Maxwell’s shoes. Tim David is a good candidate as he has got a very high strike rate in short-form cricket. The Australian coach mentioned that David could potentially slot in as a finisher. But at this stage, he is not available.
Managing Pressure and High Expectations
Cameron Green joined the Kolkata Knight Riders for a record-breaking Rs 25.20 crore. McDonald admits that fans often expect too much from all-rounders. People want them to average 45 with the bat and under 30 with the ball, which is very rare.
Furthermore, Green is currently managing a lower back injury. This injury restricted his bowling during the IPL season. Cricket Australia is working closely with IPL teams to ensure Green rebuilds his fitness safely. McDonald confirmed that these fitness concerns will not stop Green from being an all-format player in the future.
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