Stars slugger Marcus Stoinis puts BBL title win ahead of thoughts of national service
After being axed from the Australian one-day side, Melbourne Stars opener Marcus Stoinis has been taking out his frustration on the Big Bash bowlers. And Sydney Sixers be warned: he hasn’t finished yet.
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Big Bash golden cap wearer Marcus Stoinis has shelved thoughts of an international resurrection for now but hopes he has “sent a message” to selectors with his barnstorming season.
The 607 runs Stoinis scored in 14 games, 158 more than anyone else, propelled the Melbourne Stars to the minor premiership and the green team are just one win away from a spot in a second-straight BBL final.
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That title push is front of mind for the hulking opener and not his potential Australian re-call for the white ball tour of South Africa having being axed from the national one-day team which recently toured India.
“You have to be careful with what you feel you deserve and I am probably guilty of having expectations … you think other people should reward you for certain things,” Stoinis said on Tuesday.
“I’m very aware of that and I am just enjoying what I am doing.
“The national selectors wanted me to go back to domestic cricket or Big Bash cricket and dominate, so hopefully I have sent that message.”
Stoinis smashed a Big Bash record score of 147 not out against the Sydney Sixers, Friday’s opponent in the grand final qualifier, earlier this month as a significant signal to selectors.
He has also been in constant contact with national coach Justin Langer who continues to send messages of encouragement.
Those messages aren’t needed in the Stars camp ahead of Friday’s MCG showdown despite a run of three-straight losses to close out the regular season.
The re-vamped finals system means the Stars can go straight to a home final with a win or get a double-chance with a loss.
Stoinis said the mood was “all good” with Pakistani speed machine Haris Rauf set to return and a mindset of “charging towards success” from a group which won a club-record 10 games this season.
“If you can’t be happy when you finish on top of the ladder then it is going to be a hard career for any individual,” Stoinis said on Tuesday.
“Losing three in a row, I’d probably be more concerned if we had won three in a row.”
“In big games you either get nervous and try and stay away from failure, or you go for it and look for success and that’s what we’re looking for. I’ll be charging towards success hopefully.”
Stoins also said he was ready and willing to bowl and help fill the game left by the departure of spinner Sandeep Lamicchane.