Stars skipper Marcus Stoinis backs teammate Glenn Maxwell to make Test leap after David Warner comments

After David Warner’s heated comments towards Glenn Maxwell, Melbourne Stars skipper Marcus Stoinis has backed his ‘keen as mustard’ teammate to make jump from BBL to Test team.

New Melbourne Stars captain Marcus Stoinis has backed Glenn Maxwell to make the leap from the Big Bash League to Test cricket if selected for the tour of Sri Lanka.

Retired Australian opener David Warner delivered a broadside to his former short-form teammate Maxwell this week, declaring he hadn’t played enough red-ball cricket to be considered for the Test team.

Maxwell played the last of his seven Tests in September, 2017, but has been touted as a potential spin option for next month’s Sri Lankan tour.

The 36-year-old has also not played a first-class match since turning out in England’s County Championship in July last year.

“I know Maxi is keen as mustard, but I understand as well Davey saying that he hasn’t played red ball cricket, but no-one playing white ball cricket – unless you’re in the Test team – is playing red ball cricket,” Stoinis said.

Marcus Stoinis has backed Glenn Maxwell on the back of Warner’s comments. Picture: AAP Image/Michael Dodge

“It’s hard to hold that against the individual.

“My understanding would be selectors will pick the best team regardless of situations out of players’ control, which I think is fair.”

Stoinis said if any player was capable of transitioning to Test cricket with little exposure to red-ball cricket, it was the man he has succeeded as Stars skipper.

“I’d have money on him (Maxwell) doing well if he gets the chance,” Stoinis said.

“I’d be worried about maybe another player going from Big Bash to Test cricket but not Glenn Maxwell going from Big Bash to Test cricket.

“I think he’s adaptable, knows his game, might play the spin over there like the Big Bash anyway.”

Stoinis said the Stars – one of only two BBL franchises which is yet to win a title – were “overdue” for the ultimate success.

“I’ve been here a long time and we’ve been through a few transitions from being super successful even though we didn’t win it to having a few lean years,” he said.

“Us not winning in the years we were around the finals and super competitive (was because) we got obsessed with the fact we weren’t winning the title despite being probably the most successful club in that period of the Big Bash.

“When we didn’t win, we tried to change too much in the chase of a title. Hopefully we get back to that consistency.

“Maxi did a great job for quite a while there so it’s nice to take the reins off him and give him some space.”

Maxwell will miss Sunday’s season opener against Perth Scorchers with a hamstring injury and will then by a “day-by-day” proposition, while Beau Webster’s release from the Test squad has yet to be confirmed.