In a bid to bolster their squad for the upcoming Big Bash League (BBL) seasons, the Melbourne Stars have secured the services of Marcus Stoinis until the culmination of BBL 16 in 2026-2027. The Melbourne Stars faced a challenging campaign in the recently concluded BBL, finishing sixth on the points table with four wins and six losses from their 10 matches.
This marked the fourth consecutive season in which the team failed to progress beyond the league stage, prompting talismanic player Glenn Maxwell to step down from the captaincy after their final league game. To enhance their prospects for the next season, the Melbourne Stars have extended Marcus Stoinis’s contract, making him a pivotal part of their lineup.
Stoinis, who has featured in 98 matches for the Stars, showcasing his all-round prowess, holds the second position in the list of top run-getters for Melbourne and is also the sixth-highest wicket-taker in the team’s history.
Despite being out of contract, Stoinis garnered interest from other BBL teams, with the Perth Scorchers expressing a keen desire to acquire his services. However, the Melbourne Stars successfully retained the 34-year-old, who is based in Perth and has previously played for the Scorchers in the 2012-2013 BBL edition before moving to Melbourne.
Melbourne Star’s General Manager said: “Marcus is obviously one of the most experienced and well performed T20 players in Australia over the last decade and for him to commit for another three seasons is a great demonstration of the faith he has in where we are headed.”
“He is one of the most in-demand T20 players in the world and as we saw on New Year’s Eve again this year, when he was at his destructive best, he is one of very few players who can win a match off his own bat. As well as what Marcus brings on the field, he, along with the other senior players will play a huge role over the next few years in developing the next generation at the Stars.”
Heading into the next season, Marcus Stoinis has the opportunity to reach a significant milestone, becoming only the second player to represent the Melbourne Stars in 100 BBL matches, a feat previously achieved by Glenn Maxwell last season. With Maxwell relinquishing the captaincy, Stoinis emerges as a potential candidate for the leadership role in the upcoming campaign.
In the broader cricketing context, Stoinis, dropped from the ODI side, has shifted focus towards franchise cricket, recognizing that he might not secure another Cricket Australia central contract next season. However, he remains in contention, being named in Australia’s T20I squad for the upcoming series against the West Indies. Currently, Stoinis is actively contributing to the Durban Super Giants in SA20 2024, showcasing his form with 63 runs in four innings at a strike rate of 105.
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