Australian all-rounder Marcus Stoinis shocked the cricketing world on Thursday by announcing his immediate retirement from One-Day International (ODI) cricket. However, he will still be available for selection in Australia’s national T20I squad.
The 35-year-old all-rounder was included in Australia’s preliminary 15-man squad for the ICC Champions Trophy, scheduled to take place later this month in Pakistan and the UAE. He will now be replaced in the final squad, which is set to be announced by February 12.
Stoinis, who has been competing in South Africa’s T20 franchise competition with Durban’s Super Giants, reportedly sustained a mild hamstring injury while bowling in recent days. Despite the injury, his decision to retire from ODIs stems from his desire to focus on the T20 format for the remainder of his career, both at the international level and in franchise cricket.
Reflecting on his decision, Stoinis said, “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. 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.”
Stoinis also expressed his appreciation for Australia’s head coach, Andrew McDonald, saying, “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.”
McDonald, who is currently with the Australian Test team in Galle before they head to Pakistan later this month, paid tribute to Stoinis’ contributions to Australian cricket. “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.”
Stoinis, who made his ODI debut against England at Headingley, earned widespread recognition after his explosive performance against New Zealand at Eden Park. In that match, he scored an unbeaten 146 from 117 balls batting at number seven, nearly securing a remarkable victory for Australia.
