Rixon first came to public attention as a 16-year-old during the 1970/71 Marylebone Cricket Club tour of Australia, when England's wicket-keeper Alan Knott applauded Rixon's efforts for a Southern New South Wales team against the MCC.

[1] Rixon subsequently moved to Sydney to play initially for Waverley before transferring to Western Suburbs.

These players included the then-Australian wicketkeeper Rod Marsh and the reserve keeper on the 1977 Ashes, Richie Robinson.

Leading contenders included the experienced John Maclean, the Queensland captain, and Rixon.

[3] In the second test, Rixon scored 50 runs in the first innings, taking part in a valuable 101 partnership with captain Bob Simpson.

[12] Rixon was not selected for the 1978-79 Ashes, the selectors preferring John Maclean, and then Kevin Wright.

Rod Marsh returned to the test side in 1979-80 and remained Australia's first choice keeper until his retirement in 1984.

[19] Rixon was selected on the 1985 Ashes tour of England as reserve keeper, with Phillips as first choice.

[20] Rixon played for the Australian XI in the rebel tour of South Africa over two summers, 1985–86 and 1986–87, but on his return was unable to rejoin the national team.

It was also reported that Rixon was interested in taking over the head coaching job of the Australian cricket team when John Buchanan left at the end of the 2006/07 Ashes series.

In the Indian Premier League, he coached the Hyderabad Heroes and later the Chennai Super Kings.

On 28 June 2011, he was appointed Fielding Coach of the Australian Cricket Team replacing Mike Young.