Stoinis retires from ODIs ahead of Champions Trophy
With all-rounder Mitchell Marsh already ruled out due to a back injury and captain Pat Cummins struggling with an ankle problem, the squad faces key absences.
Australia all-rounder Marcus Stoinis has announced his immediate retirement from one-day internationals, leaving the defending champions with a gap to fill ahead of the upcoming Champions Trophy.
The 35-year-old's decision comes as another setback for Australia before the eight-team tournament, set to begin on 19 February in Pakistan and Dubai.
With all-rounder Mitchell Marsh already ruled out due to a back injury and captain Pat Cummins struggling with an ankle problem, the squad faces key absences.
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"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," Stoinis said. "I'll be cheering the boys on in Pakistan."
Stoinis made his ODI debut against England in 2015 at Old Trafford and was also part of the T20I squad on that tour. Over his 74-match ODI career, he played a key role in Australia's 2023 World Cup triumph.
Explaining his decision, Stoinis said he wanted to concentrate on T20 cricket. "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," he added.
Australia head coach Andrew McDonald praised Stoinis for his contributions. "Stoin has been a crucial part of our ODI setup for the past decade. 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," McDonald said.
Cricket Australia confirmed that the final squad for the Champions Trophy will be announced after the conclusion of the Test series against Sri Lanka this week.
