Australian all-rounder Marcus Stoinis has declared his immediate retirement from One-Day International (ODI) cricket to concentrate on his T20 career. The 35-year-old, who debuted in ODIs in 2015, has represented Australia in 71 matches, amassing 1,495 runs at an average of 26.69 and claiming 48 wickets with a bowling average of 43.12.
Stoinis was part of Australia’s victorious 2023 World Cup squad and was honored as the ODI Player of the Year in 2019. A standout moment in his ODI tenure was his unbeaten 146 runs against New Zealand at Eden Park in January 2017, where he also secured three wickets, despite Australia’s loss in that match.
In his retirement announcement, Stoinis expressed gratitude for his ODI journey, stating, “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.” He acknowledged the difficulty of his decision but emphasised his readiness to focus on the next chapter of his career.
Australian coach Andrew McDonald lauded Stoinis’s contributions, noting, “Stoin has been such a pivotal part of our ODI setup for the past decade. Not only has he been an invaluable player but also an incredible person too.”
Stoinis’s departure from ODIs presents a selection challenge for Australia ahead of the upcoming Champions Trophy. The team is already contending with the absence of all-rounder Mitchell Marsh due to a back injury, while captain Pat Cummins and bowler Josh Hazlewood are also facing fitness concerns. The Australian selectors are expected to finalise the Champions Trophy squad in the coming week, with potential adjustments to the provisional lineup.
