Australian cricketer Marcus Stoinis has made a surprising decision to retire from One Day Internationals (ODIs), meaning he will not be part of Australia's squad for the upcoming Champions Trophy. The 35-year-old allrounder has decided to shift his focus entirely to T20 cricket, where he remains available for national selection.
Stoinis played 71 ODIs for Australia, scoring 1495 runs at an average of 26.69, with his highest score being 146* against New Zealand in 2017. He also contributed with the ball, taking 48 wickets at an average of 43.12.
Reflecting on his decision, Stoinis expressed gratitude for his time representing Australia. "Playing for my country in ODIs has been an amazing journey, and I’m thankful for every moment," he said. "It was a tough call to step away, but I feel this is the right time to focus on the next phase of my career."
Australia's head coach Andrew McDonald praised Stoinis for his contributions over the years. "He has been a key part of our ODI setup and a great presence in the team. He’s a natural leader, and his impact on and off the field has been incredible," McDonald said.
Stoinis played a crucial role in Australia’s 2023 ODI World Cup victory, particularly with his bowling performance against Pakistan. However, after that tournament, he only played one more ODI and was not given a central contract by Cricket Australia. He was initially expected to feature in the Champions Trophy, especially in the absence of the injured Cameron Green.
Australia now faces multiple challenges ahead of the Champions Trophy, with Mitchell Marsh ruled out due to a back injury and fast bowlers Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood also unavailable. The final squad will be confirmed after the second Test against Sri Lanka.
Stoinis recently participated in the SA20 league with Durban’s Super Giants but suffered an injury during his second match. Before that, he played in the Big Bash League for the Melbourne Stars.
With his ODI career now behind him, Stoinis will look to make an impact in T20 cricket, both for Australia and in various franchise leagues worldwide.
Updated on 07 February, 2025 by MyFortune11 Team.