BBL 2021-22: All the latest Big Bash news; how Marcus Stoinis went from outcast to World Cup hero
Marcus Stoinis reveals how Ricky Ponting helped ressurect his international career and provided an insight into the mid-pitch laughs which helped Australia win the T20 World Cup.
Big Bash
Don't miss out on the headlines from Big Bash. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Marcus Stoinis snatched one of Matthew Wade’s New Balance shoes and drenched it with beer.
Wade had just gulped a can from his brightly-coloured kicks and now his Twenty20 World Cup batting partner wanted a ‘shoey’ of his own as Australia’s raucous dressing room party escalated.
Stoinis’s good mate Daniel Riccardo made the unhygienic celebration famous when the Formula One star poured bubbles into one of his own kicks on the podium after winning the 2016 German Grand Prix.
Funny guy, Stoinis.
In 2019, when Riccardo reversed into another car at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, the powerful batter told him: “Mate, you’ve got a $15 million car and there’s no reverse camera. What’s going on with that?’”
Sport’s greatest rivalry is just around the corner and you can catch the Ashes live and ad-break free during play. New to Kayo? Start your free trial today >
The comedy between Stoinis and Wade flowed almost as freely as the runs when they twice got Australia out of jail in the United Arab Emirates — in the World Cup opener against South Africa and then in that epic semi-final against Pakistan.
“They’re nervous, we’re calm!” Wade would bellow at Stoinis as the field shuffled around.
When Wade asked Stoinis how on earth they were going to thump 60 runs off the last five overs against Pakistan the answer was straightforward.
“You’ve got 30 off 15 and I’ve got 30 off 15,” Stoinis grinned.
How's your Monday going? 😅#T20WorldCuppic.twitter.com/Fdaf0rxUiV
— ICC (@ICC) November 15, 2021
What did Stoinis tell himself when he strutted out to bat in that sticky chase against South Africa?
“’Come on then you f****** rooster’,” Stoinis recounted with a laugh during a relaxed interview with the Grade Cricketer podcast.
Wade helped kick-start Stoinis’s career as his long-time captain at Victoria and that old bond helped Australia bring home a new piece of ICC silverware.
Jokes aside, it has been a rollercoaster ride for Stoinis the hulking straight-hitter.
Rewind to January, 2019, and Stoinis was the next big thing in Australian cricket.
Whisked up to Canberra to replace Matthew Renshaw in the Test squad against Sri Lanka, a baggy green beckoned but never arrived and he has rarely seen a red ball since.
Neither did Stoinis’s form in the 50-over World Cup later that year.
He suffered two side strains, made a second-ball duck in the semi-final loss to England and top-scored with 22.
Cricket Australia’s World Cup report card was no laughing matter.
Stoinis was punted from both of Australia’s white-ball teams as a blossoming career suddenly stalled.
“That’s what happens in big tournaments — if things don’t go to plan there’s players that miss out,” he said.
But the West Australian reflected on those tough times as developing the “scar tissue” he required.
“I’ve failed in situations,” Stoinis said.
“I’ve been told I can’t finish a game, we’ve heard all of these sort of things before and you need to build all that scar tissue.
“I didn’t wonder if I’d played my last game (for Australia), but I was definitely wondering how long it was going to take to come back.”
It took 14 months.
Not even 705 runs opening the batting for Melbourne Stars in the 2019-20 summer, where he was named player of the Big Bash League, fast-tracked his return.
In the background was good mate Ricky Ponting, the man whose faith has seemingly never wavered.
Ponting rates Stoinis as Australia’s No.1 outfielder and loves his ball-striking and presence.
In the months after that ODI World Cup Ponting put Delhi’s money where his mouth was, purchasing Stoinis for $980,000 in the Indian Premier League auction.
“Most the time he (Ponting) just empowers me,” Stoinis said.
“And helps me realise that a lot of the time either you’re thinking along the right direction of what you’re trying to do with your career and where you see it going is the right thing, and the way you’re evolving your technique and the way you’re playing certain bowlers.
“It sometimes helps to have that confirmation from such a legend of our game.
“Outside of that he’s just a good friend and he just supports me.”
Stoinis is a student of the game.
He asked IPL teammate AB de Villiers for a tutorial on how he swept a fast bowler to the ropes and tapped Lasith Malinga for a one-on-one lesson on slower balls after a World Cup warm-up match in England.
India captain Virat Kohli, who Stoinis played under in the IPL, told him to trump a bowler’s energy and conviction while MS Dhoni’s wisdom revolved around controlling your heart rate and breathing.
Stoinis even eavesdropped on a mystery spin session in Moe as Stars teammate Adam Zampa interrupted Rashid Khan’s post-match Calippo icy-pole for a bowl.
But the evolution of Stoinis from World Cup struggler to saviour has been mindset far more than technique.
“You use multiple things to spur you on,” he said.
“As athletes you need a bit of (a spur). Sometimes you remember the things that the journos say, you write them down and you add it to the fire in the belly just to keep you going.”
Mark Waugh often quips that Stoinis chews up too many balls when he starts an innings.
But when Wade replaced Glenn Maxwell at the crease in the semi-final against Pakistan, Stoinis heaved Shadab Khan’s next ball for six.
It was just the eighth delivery he had faced.
“To hit the spinner for six first ball when I got out there, I think that kind of play, in my eyes, is really gutsy,” Wade said.
“He could have easily blocked that ball. But he went for it, hit a six and then that total comes down a little bit more.”
Stoinis then smashed 12 runs off three balls from ex-Stars teammate Haris Rauf in the 17th over, setting the scene for Wade’s triple-six heroics that won the match.
“That kind of swung the momentum our way and gave us a little bit of an opportunity to win the game,” Wade said.
“Marcus’ innings was underestimated, to be honest. It was a terrific innings.
“It took a lot of pressure off me early and gave me the ability to get in and get them late.
“There’s no doubt I was feeling the pressure a little bit. And Stoinis was saying, ‘We’ll get these, we’ll get these’.
“In the back of my mind I was thinking, ‘I hope you do because I don’t think I’ll strike one here at the moment’.
“But while he’s around I’m confident we can chase any total.”
PEIRSON KEEPING INGLIS, CAREY HONEST IN BAGGY GREEN QUEST
Robert Craddock
Brisbane Heat captain Jimmy Peirson reckons he is playing to his ability for the first time in his career … and big voices are noticing.
Peirson will not keep for Australia at the Gabba next week because Alex Carey will debut after feathering out Josh Inglis.
But Peirson, who takes of the Heat captaincy from Chris Lynn who has relinquished duties, is snapping at the heels of both and in recent weeks has drawn praise from Ian Healy, Mark Waugh and Darren Berry as his case for international selection solidifies.
Sport’s greatest rivalry is just around the corner and you can catch the Ashes live and ad-break free during play. New to Kayo? Start your free trial today >
“For the first time in my career I feel as if I am playing to my ability,’’ Peirson said. “Obviously there is a lot of talk around the Australian Test team and the wicketkeeping role there. I believe I can do that job.
“I try not to read my own press but you cannot help but notice in an Ashes year where there is so much at stake.
“The likes of Ian Healy and Mark Waugh and recently Darren Berry have said some nice things which is really cool because I had a bit to do with Darren for a season when I was down with the Strikers.
“I guess he saw a bit of potential in my game back then. I learnt as much I could from him when I was down there.’’
Peirson produced some of his best work without getting major fanfare at the Gabba in the recent Sheffield Shield match against Western Australian when he kept over the stumps to fast bowlers Michael Neser and Jack Wildermuth to stop exceptional youngster Cameron Green from batting outside his crease.
“Really excited by it and plans to keep on doing it. The good thing about the Gabba is that it is bouncy but you can trust the bounce.’’
Peirson is something of a late bloomer on the interstate scene. After a patchy start he has become one of Australia’s most improved yet still underrated players in recent seasons.
“When I came in full-time I did not score the runs I should have that first season. That can send you one of two ways. You can either run away or get better. It took me two or three seasons to get where I needed to be and then I found a groove.
“You don’t believe you can do it until you have done it and when you have a little bit of success you start to believe.
“I think you need those low times to understand what needs to be done to drag yourself out of it.’’
More Coverage
Originally published as BBL 2021-22: All the latest Big Bash news; how Marcus Stoinis went from outcast to World Cup hero
Leg Buys: Pucovski clue in key Vic deal, Canes ink BBL gun
Victoria is guarding for life without Will Pucovski as his future in the sport hangs in the balance, with a veteran opener inking a long deal, plus the Hurricanes have welcomed back a BBL star in this week’s Leg Buys.
Leg Buys: 22-year-old tweaker emerges as Lyon replacement
A 22-year-old wrist spinner from Geelong has emerged as Nathan Lyon’s replacement after earning a spot in last season’s Victorian Premier Cricket team of the year. All the latest cricket gossip in this week’s Leg Buys column.