Marcus Stoinis announces shock retirement from ODI Cricket amid Australia’s injury woes

Australia’s preparations for the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy have taken another hit as all-rounder Marcus Stoinis announced his immediate retirement from One Day Internationals (ODIs), opting to focus on his T20I career. The decision, reported by the International Cricket Council (ICC) on Thursday, means the 35-year-old will not be part of Australia’s squad for the eight-team tournament in Pakistan and the UAE, set to begin on February 19.

Stoinis’ retirement adds to Australia’s growing concerns, as they are already dealing with an injury crisis. All-rounder Mitch Marsh has been ruled out, while key fast bowlers Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood remain doubtful for the tournament. With Stoinis stepping away, Australia could be searching for as many as four new players to finalize their 15-member squad. Possible replacements include Spencer Johnson, Jake Fraser-McGurk, and Sean Abbott, while former captain Ricky Ponting has suggested uncapped all-rounder Mitchell Owen as a potential candidate due to his similarities with Stoinis.

Stoinis’ ODI career spanned 71 matches, where he scored 1,456 runs in 64 innings at an average of 26.69. His highest score of 146 came alongside one century and six half-centuries. With the ball, he took 48 wickets at an average of 43.12, with best figures of 3/16. He played in two ICC Men’s Cricket World Cups, in 2019 and 2023, with his last appearance coming against Pakistan in Perth in November 2023.

Reflecting on his decision, Stoinis expressed gratitude for his time representing Australia in ODI cricket. He acknowledged that stepping away was not an easy decision but felt it was the right time to focus on the next phase of his career. He also praised head coach Andrew McDonald for his support and affirmed that he would continue to support the team in the Champions Trophy.

Coach McDonald paid tribute to Stoinis, highlighting his influence on the team over the years. He described the all-rounder as a natural leader and a key figure in the squad, both as a player and as a person. He commended Stoinis for his contributions and achievements in ODI cricket, recognizing the impact he had on Australian cricket during his tenure.

Australia preliminary squad for Champions Trophy (yet to be finalised): 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, Marcus Stoinis, Adam Zampa.