Maxwell played cricket in Sydney at the Cranbrook School and once toured with an Australian Old Collegians team in 1972.
Broadcasting and publishing
In 1973 Maxwell joined the ABC after two unsuccessful attempts. Initially working as trainee, he later moved on to sports commentary and is best known for his coverage of Australian cricket. He has provided radio commentary for 306 Tests Matches and numerous One Day Internationals, including seven World Cups. Since the 1983 World Cup in England, Maxwell has been a frequent member of the BBC'sTest Match Special team and first commentated on an overseas Ashes tour in 2001. This became a regular fixture in 2005 and his description of England's dramatic win in the Second Test at Edgbaston that year was both highly memorable and much-admired by colleagues. A sound clip of Maxwell depicting the dismissal of Sir Andrew Strauss by Shane Warne in the first innings of same match was one of five selected to play over the theme music of Test Match Special podcasts during the 2019 Ashes series. In his youth, Maxwell grew up listening to celebrated cricket commentators such as Australian Alan McGilvray and Englishman John Arlott, both of whom he greatly respected. His own unique style – at once inflective and laconic – is built upon the authoritative approach of the former with poetic touches reminiscent of the latter, displaying also a wry sense of humour. He has covered a number of sports in addition to cricket, including rugby union, rugby league, golf, hockey and table tennis. He has been involved in radio coverage of at least three Olympic Games and also provided commentary for the EA Sports games Cricket 2004 and Cricket 2005 alongside fellow broadcaster Richie Benaud. Maxwell has edited the ABC Cricket Book since 1988 and has written or compiled several cricket books:
The Ashes from Bodyline to Waugh : 70 Years of the ABC Cricket Book.
The Sound of Summer'', a memoir, was published in 2016.
Personal life
Maxwell has two sons from his marriage, which ended in 2007. He is a keen amateur photographer. On BBC Test Match Special on 25 August 2013 it was announced that Maxwell had proposed to his girlfriend during the fifth Test of the 2013 Ashes. Maxwell is the president since 2009 of the Primary Club of Australia, a cricketing-based charity providing sporting and recreational facilities for people with disabilities. He is also President since 2013 of Eastern Suburbs Cricket Club In 2016 Maxwell was taken to hospital after becoming ill during a broadcast of the Rio Olympic Games. In a subsequent conversation with BBC Test Match Special cricket commentator, Jonathan Agnew, Maxwell stated that his voice is fine but as a result of a stroke, the usage of his right hand has become a problem.
