In the middle of injury concerns, Australian camp affected by shock odi -retirement of Marcus Stoinis

Melbourne (Australia), February 6 (ANI): Australia Allrounder Marcus Stoinis has shocked the cricketing world by announcing his retirement from ODI-cricket with immediate effect, International Cricket Council (ICC) reported on Thursday.

Stoinis retires from ODDs with immediate effect, so the 35-year-old can concentrate on the T20i-cricket, which means Australia will be without his services for the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy.

The Aussies are already suffering an injury crisis for the Tournament in Pakistan and UAE, beginning on February 19, with allrounder Mitch Marsh already excluded from the eight-team tournament and Key Pacers Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood also in serious doubt.

This means that Australia can be looking for up to four new players for their 15-members Champions Trophy Squad, like Spencer Johnson, Jake Fraser-McGurk and Sean Abbott all are likely to be in the mixture as a replacement.

Australia Great Ricky Ponting recently said non-calculated all-rounder Mitchell Owen should be considered for Champions Trophy, and the 22-year-old has many similar qualities that Stoinis possesses.

Stoinis ends his international odi career after representing Australia on a total of 71 apartments in 50-over cricket and has performed on two ICC men’s cricket world championships in 2019 and 2023, when his latest competition came against Pakistan in Perth in November last year. He scored 1,456 races in 64 laps an average of 26.69, with a century and six fifties and the best score of 146. He also took 48 wickets an average of 43.12, with the best numbers of 3/16.

Stoinis suggested that the decision to retire from the ODD cricket be made so he could focus on extending his T20i career, but said he would still keep an eye on the case in Champions Trophy.

“Playing the ODI -Cricket for Australia has been an incredible journey and I am grateful for every moment I have had in the green and gold. Representing my country at the highest level is something I will always cherish,” said Stoinis as cited by ICC.

“This wasn’t an easy decision but I think it’s the right time for me to go away from ODDs and fully focus on the next chapter of my career. I’ve got a great relationship with Ron (Andrew McDonald) and I have tremendously valued his support.

“I want to cheer the boys in Pakistan,” he concluded.

Australia’s coach McDonald paid tribute to Stoinis and said that the all-rounder had had a great influence throughout his ODD career.

“Stoin has been such an important part of our ODD setup in the last 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 unusually popular player and a great person.”

“He was to be congratulated with his ODD career and all his results,” he concluded.

Australia’s preliminary teams: Pat Cummins (C), Alex Carey Nathan Ellis, Aaron Hardie, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Marnus Labuscagne, Glenn Maxwell, Matt Short, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa (hold yet to be completed). (Ani)

(The story has come from a syndicated feed and is not edited by the Tribune staff.)