‘Feels like the Stars of old’: Marcus Stoinis bounces back from horror run of form to help Melbourne continue amazing BBL turnaround

There were fears the two Melbourne teams would again finish at the bottom of the BBL ladder, but the Stars are now on track to make the finals.

Veteran all-rounder Marcus Stoinis says it’s “starting to feel like the Stars of old” after Melbourne produced the highest run chase in club history to stun the Strikers on New Year’s Eve to continue their incredible turnaround.

The perennial underachievers had lost 10 of their past 11 matches heading into the Boxing Day game against the Sixers, but they’ve won three away games on the trot and can consolidate their spot in the top four when they face cross-town rivals the Renegades on Tuesday.

Marcus Stoinis was back to his best in the Stars’ win over Adelaide. Picture: Sarah Reed/Getty Images

“We’ve still got more to prove, but we’ve gone from a team where the finals chat before used to be ‘oh we haven’t won but we make it every year’, and then it’s turned to ‘oh we haven’t made finals for three years’,” Stoinis said following the seven wicket win in Adelaide.

“So there’s an expectation from us – especially some of us that have been here for a long time – that we are going to be there on pretty much the last day, and then it’s up to that last day for what happens.

“It’s nice to have three wins a row. Nothing has completely changed, but the momentum is there.

“It’s starting to feel like the Stars of old.”

The Strikers looked to have done enough when they posted 4/205 thanks to a brutal 83 off just 42 deliveries from veteran Chris Lynn, but the visitors made light work of the chase, getting home with an over to spare.

That's a huuuuuuge top decker from Beau Webster! 🚀 #BBL13pic.twitter.com/n21zWPKuNh

— KFC Big Bash League (@BBL) December 31, 2023

Beau Webster continued his amazing season with an unbeaten 66 that featured one of the biggest sixes in tournament history, but it was Stoinis who got them home as he returned to form with 55 not out off just 19 deliveries.

The Australian star bludgeoned four sixes in the chase having scored just 30 runs in his previous five BBL innings.

The Stars can challenge for the title if Glenn Maxwell and Stoinis produce their best, with the latter keen to deliver after a “frustrating” World Cup where he battled quad, hamstring and calf injuries in India.

“I was speaking to one of our coaches before the game and I said ‘I’m frustrated’ because I’ve had worse times in cricket in terms of whether it’s not enjoying it as much or whether it’s spending too long away from home, but I’ve been expecting more of myself which can sometimes be more frustrating,” Stoinis said of his lean run.

“It’s great to make runs and that sort of thing, but for not making runs for five games, I’ve been feeling all right.”

Originally published as ‘Feels like the Stars of old’: Marcus Stoinis bounces back from horror run of form to help Melbourne continue amazing BBL turnaround