Marcus Stoinis eyeing comeback in Australian T20 WC team as all-rounder

Marcus Stoinis

All-rounder Marcus Stoinis believes that he can still play for Australia in the T20 World Cup as an all-rounder despite playing in the ongoing Big Bash League (BBL) as a non-bowling opener for Melbourne Stars.

The cricketer would bat in the lower middle order for Australia in the past, but the new role has meant that Stoinis has got extra time at the top, and he utilized his chances as he is assured of finishing the tournament as the leading run-scorer.

He has thus far scored 697 runs from 14 matches in the edition at an average of over 60 and a strike rate of 134.29. On being asked whether he can still be considered as an all-rounder in the national T20 squad despite his change in role in the BBL, Stoinis added that he had the Indian Premier League to show that his skills as an all-rounder have not diminished. He will play for Delhi Capitals in the IPL 2020.

“I’ll go to the IPL in two months and most likely I’ll be batting five or six. So to me, I see it as I’m adaptable, I’m trying to do everything I can in the game and if the selectors see it as ‘you’re an opening batsman’ or whatever, that’s up to them.

Marcus Stoinis

“I’m just enjoying what I’m doing. I understand that the national selectors wanted me to go back to domestic cricket, or Big Bash cricket and dominate, so hopefully I’ve sent that message.”

Stoinis was in stellar form in last year’s BBL, and was touted as a game-changer for the national team in the ICC World Cup last year, but he was unable to continue his momentum, and soon lost his place in the line-up.

He last played for the Australian ODI team in the semis of the World Cup, in July 2019, with his last T20 International match being played almost a year ago, in February 2019 against India in Bengaluru.