February 6, 2025: Australia all-rounder Marcus Stoinis has shocked the cricketing world by announcing his retirement from One-Day International (ODI) cricket with immediate effect. The 35-year-old revealed his decision on Thursday, which will allow him to focus on his T20I career going forward. As a result, Stoinis will not feature in Australia’s squad for the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy.
Stoinis’ decision comes at a challenging time for Australian cricket, with the team already grappling with an injury crisis ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy, set to begin on February 19 in Pakistan and the UAE. All-rounder Mitch Marsh has already been ruled out of the tournament, while key pacers Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood are also in serious doubt for the eight-team tournament.
Australia may now be on the lookout for up to four new players to replace injured or unavailable players in their 15-member Champions Trophy squad. Players like Spencer Johnson, Jake Fraser-McGurk, and Sean Abbott are all likely to be considered as replacements.
Marcus Stoinis leaves behind an impressive ODI career, having represented Australia in 71 matches. In his 64 innings, Stoinis scored 1,456 runs at an average of 26.69, which included one century and six fifties, with his highest score being 146. As a bowler, he took 48 wickets at an average of 43.12, with his best bowling figures of 3/16.
He featured in two ICC Men’s Cricket World Cups (2019 and 2023), with his most recent appearance in the 50-over format coming in November 2023 against Pakistan in Perth.
Retirement Decision and Future Plans
Stoinis explained that his decision to retire from ODIs was motivated by his desire to prolong his T20I career. Despite stepping away from the 50-over format, he expressed his ongoing support for the Australian team and stated that he would continue to closely follow the Champions Trophy.
“Playing ODI cricket for Australia has been an incredible journey, and I am grateful for every moment I have had in the green and gold,” Stoinis said. “This was not an easy decision, but I believe it is the right time for me to step away from ODIs and fully focus on the next chapter of my career. I have got a fantastic relationship with Ron (Andrew McDonald) and I have hugely appreciated his support.”
Stoinis added, “I will be cheering the boys on in Pakistan.”
Tribute from Coach Andrew McDonald
Australia’s coach, Andrew McDonald, paid tribute to Stoinis, highlighting his significant contributions to the team over the years. “Stoin has been such a pivotal part of our ODI setup for the past decade,” McDonald said. “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 concluded by congratulating Stoinis on his ODI career and all his achievements.
The Australian squad for the Champions Trophy is yet to be finalized, but the preliminary squad includes:
- Pat Cummins (captain)
- Alex Carey
- Nathan Ellis
- Aaron Hardie
- Josh Hazlewood
- Travis Head
- Josh Inglis
- Marnus Labuschagne
- Glenn Maxwell
- Matt Short
- Steve Smith
- Mitchell Starc
- Adam Zampa
With Stoinis’ sudden retirement and the injury concerns surrounding key players, Australia’s preparations for the Champions Trophy are under intense scrutiny, and the team will have to quickly adapt in the coming weeks.