Australia's Marcus Stoinis Announces Retirement from One-Day Cricket Ahead of Champions Trophy

In a surprising move, Australia's all-rounder Marcus Stoinis has announced his retirement from One-Day International (ODI) cricket, meaning he will not be part of the Champions Trophy set to begin on February 19. The all-rounder confirmed his retirement decision himself.

Reflecting on his decision, Stoinis shared, "Playing ODI cricket for Australia has been an incredible journey. I am grateful for every moment. Representing my country has always been a matter of pride, and it is something I will always cherish."

He also expressed his gratitude towards his coach and teammates, adding, "This decision wasn’t easy, but I believe it is the right time to step away from ODIs. I now want to focus on the next chapter of my career. I have a great relationship with Renn (Andrew McDonald) and I am grateful for his support. I will continue to support the team in Pakistan."

Australia’s head coach Andrew McDonald acknowledged Stoinis’s impact on the team, saying, "Stoinis has been an integral part of our ODI team for the past decade. He is not just an invaluable player, but also an outstanding person in the squad. His leadership qualities and popularity are remarkable. He deserves congratulations for his ODI career and all his achievements."

The 35-year-old Stoinis, who will now focus solely on T20 cricket, has played 71 ODIs in his career, scoring 1495 runs. He has also taken 48 wickets in ODIs at an average of 43.12.