Australia’s dynamic all-rounder, Marcus Stoinis, has announced his immediate retirement from One Day International (ODI) cricket, a move that has sent ripples through the cricketing world.
The 35-year-old will now concentrate solely on T20 International cricket, meaning Australia will be without his services for the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy in Pakistan and the UAE.
Stoinis’s retirement comes as a further blow to the Australian side, who are already grappling with a significant injury crisis ahead of the eight-team tournament, commencing on February 19th. All-rounder Mitch Marsh has been ruled out, while key pacers Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood are also facing serious doubts regarding their participation. This leaves Australia potentially needing to find replacements for up to four players in their 15-member squad.
Names like Spencer Johnson, Jake Fraser-McGurk, and Sean Abbott are being discussed as potential replacements, adding to the speculation surrounding the final squad composition. The absence of Stoinis, combined with the other potential absentees, has prompted calls for uncapped all-rounders like Mitch Owen to be considered. Former Australian captain Ricky Ponting recently suggested that Owen, who shares several similar qualities with Stoinis, should be in contention for a spot in the Champions Trophy squad.
Stoinis concludes his ODI career having represented Australia in 71 matches, participating in two ICC Men’s Cricket World Cups (2019 and 2023). His final ODI appearance was against Pakistan in Perth last November. He explained that his decision to retire from the 50-over format was driven by a desire to prolong his T20I career. Despite his retirement, Stoinis assured fans that he will be keenly following Australia’s progress in the Champions Trophy.
“Playing ODI cricket for Australia has been an incredible journey, and I’m grateful for every moment I’ve had in the green and gold. Representing my country at the highest level is something I’ll always cherish,” Stoinis said. “This wasn’t an easy decision, but I believe it’s the right time for me to step away from ODIs and fully focus on the next chapter of my career. I’ve got a fantastic relationship with Ron (Andrew McDonald) and I’ve hugely appreciated his support. I’ll be cheering the boys on in Pakistan.”
Australian coach Andrew McDonald acknowledged Stoinis’s significant contribution to the ODI team over the past decade. “Stoin has been such a pivotal part of our ODI setup for the past decade,” McDonald said. “Not only has he been an invaluable player but also an incredible person to have in the group. He is a natural leader, an exceptionally popular player and a great person. He should be congratulated on his ODI career and all of his achievements.”
Australia’s preliminary squad for the Champions Trophy currently includes: Pat Cummins (c), Alex Carey, Nathan Ellis, Aaron Hardie, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Marnus Labuschagne, Glenn Maxwell, Matt Short, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, and Adam Zampa. However, with injuries and Stoinis’s retirement, the final squad is yet to be confirmed and is subject to change.