Synopsis
Marcus Stoinis, Australia's seam-bowling all-rounder, has announced his unexpected retirement from ODIs, concluding his international 50-over career with 74 matches. He will continue to play T20 cricket and will support his teammates in upcoming tournaments.Key Takeaways
- Marcus Stoinis retires from ODIs
- He played 74 matches in his ODI career
- Focus on T20 cricket moving forward
- Part of Australia's 2023 ODI World Cup win
- Replacements needed for the Champions Trophy
New Delhi, Feb 6 (NationPress) Australia’s seam-bowling all-rounder Marcus Stoinis has made the unexpected announcement of his retirement from ODIs, effective immediately, marking the conclusion of his international 50-over career after 74 matches.
Cricket Australia (CA) stated on Thursday that Stoinis will remain eligible for selection in T20Is, noting that his choice to retire from the 50-over format aims to allow him to concentrate on T20 cricket. His exit from ODIs also means that CA will seek to replace him in Australia’s squad for the ICC Champion’s Trophy.
“Participating in ODI cricket for Australia has been an incredible journey, and I’m thankful for every moment I’ve spent wearing the green and gold. Representing my nation at the highest level is something I will always treasure.
“This decision wasn’t easy, but I feel it’s the right time for me to depart from ODIs and completely focus on the next stage of my career. I have a wonderful relationship with Ron (Andrew McDonald) and I’ve greatly valued his support. I’ll be rooting for the boys in Pakistan,” stated Stoinis in a CA announcement.
Stoinis’ decade-long ODI career for Australia initiated against England in 2015 at Old Trafford, where he also made his T20I debut during that tour. He had to wait until the following year to secure his place in Australia’s ODI team, which he established by scoring a stunning 146 not out against New Zealand at Eden Park, accompanied by taking three wickets.
Stoinis was part of Australia’s 2023 ODI World Cup victory in India and earned the title of the country's ODI cricketer of the year for the 2018-19 season. “Stoin has been an essential part of our ODI framework for the last decade.”
“He has not only been a crucial player but also a fantastic individual to have in the squad. He is a natural leader, widely respected, and a great person. We congratulate him on his ODI career and all his accomplishments,” commented head coach Andrew McDonald.
With Stoinis stepping away from ODIs just two weeks before the Champions Trophy begins, alongside injury concerns regarding Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood, CA mentioned that the National Selection Panel (NSP) will finalize the roster for the Champion’s Trophy after the conclusion of the Test series against Sri Lanka.
Australia has already lost all-rounder Mitchell Marsh due to a back injury, and Stoinis’ retirement from ODIs implies they need to fill four positions in their 15-man squad for the eight-team competition.
Teams have until February 12 to present their final 15-player squads for the tournament to the ICC. Australia has been placed in Group B of the Champions Trophy alongside Afghanistan, England, and South Africa.
