Former Australia captain Aaron Finch has commented on the all-rounder Marcus Stoinis’ sudden ODI retirement call. The decision had left the selectors surprised as they are already struggling amid a few injury crises ahead of the 2025 Champions Trophy. However, the all-rounder was added to the provisional squad but stepped away from the format on February 6, a cfew weeks before the tournament starts.

On the latest episode of ESPN Australia’s ‘Around the Wicket’ podcast, Aaron Finch said, “When you’ve had the faith put in you by the selection, the coach & the captain – maybe a little bit more of a heads up? Saying, ‘You know, this is what I am thinking.’ I would be surprised if it was an off the cuff decision as well, I am sure there would have been planning down the track, there would have been conversations between Andrew McDonald and Marcus Stoinis to try to get to the decision,” Finch said.

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In the same video, Aaron Finch shared how the overwhelming cricketing calendar may have seen Marcus Stoinis taking such a call. Australian
white-ball players have also been involved in the home series against Pakistan and the Big Bash League (BBL) over the last couple of months as well.

“At the end of the day, each player has the opportunity to decide what their fate is going forward. For me, if you look at Marcus Stoinis for the last couple of years, he’s preferred to play the T20 route. Being in Pakistan, then straight to India after a summer of cricket at home, that can potentially be four-five months on the road, so maybe that contributed to the decision,” Aaron Finch concluded.