Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) all-rounder Marcus Stoinis disclosed his awareness of being excluded from Cricket Australia’s central contract for the upcoming 2024-25 season. Despite this setback, his focus remains on making a significant contribution to the Baggy Greens during the T20 World Cup 2024. Stoinis, a notable absentee from CA’s roster of 23 players last month, demonstrated an exceptional performance against the Chennai Super Kings in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024, setting records at Chepauk.
His remarkable unbeaten 124* not only secured a 6-wicket victory for LSG but also silenced the exuberant crowd clad in yellow. With the deadline for squad submissions approaching on May 1, Stoinis vigorously vied for inclusion in Australia’s 15-player lineup for the prestigious event commencing on June 1.
Expressing his eagerness to bolster Australia’s pursuit of another title, Stoinis emphasized his adaptability to the game’s evolving dynamics. He acknowledged the critical role played by his teammate Nicholas Pooran in altering the course of the match. Stoinis reflected on his strategic approach, recognizing the need for a balanced offensive strategy against different bowlers, particularly during phases of difficulty.
Stoinis has a special message for the selectors
Stoinis said: “I’ve got a great relationship with the coach (Australian Head coach – Andrew McDonald), me not getting a contract, I knew that long ago. It’s great to let the kids come in and get an opportunity, I’m happy to let them take my spot. But on the playing front, I’d like to play and contribute.”
“In these competitions, there are plenty of better opening batters better than me so I’ll leave it to them. It’s not just go go go, there were some bowlers we wanted to target and some bowlers we wanted to be more cautious against. There was a phase where I wasn’t able to hit the boundaries so it was great Pooran could come in and take the pressure off. Lots of ebbs and flows, just tried to keep it in control.”
“You’re planning and structuring, you’re not liking certain bowlers and you’re liking others more. I do think T20 cricket is changing, the scores that have been scored, the impact player role and how teams are taking on the bowlers.”
Regarding the match itself, after restricting CSK to bat first, skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad (108*) and Shivam Dube (66) propelled the hosts to a formidable total of 210/4. Despite early setbacks with the dismissals of Quinton de Kock and KL Rahul, Stoinis took charge, guiding LSG to successfully chase down the highest target ever at Chepauk.
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