Despite being excluded from Cricket Australia’s (CA) central contracts for the 2024-25 season, all-rounder Marcus Stoinis isn’t ready to hang up his white-ball gloves just yet. His blistering century against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) on Tuesday served as a potent reminder of his capabilities, and he aims to leverage this performance to extend his international career beyond the upcoming T20 World Cup.
The announcement of the 23-member central contract list on March 28th saw Stoinis’ name missing, but the experienced player took it in stride.
“I’ve got a great relationship with the (Australia) coach (Andrew McDonald). Me not getting a contract, I knew that a while ago. I think it is great to give younger kids a crack and let them take my spot. I’m absolutely fine with that on the contract list,” Stoinis stated after guiding Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) to a convincing six-wicket victory over CSK.
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However, when it comes to playing for the national team, Stoinis remains resolute. “But on the playing front, obviously, I want to make sure that I’m there and that’s also why it’s so lucky for us and for me particularly to have this competition (IPL), that’s why I love it so much,” he asserted.
“I’ve got a great relationship with the (Australia) coach (Andrew McDonald). Me not getting a contract, I knew that a while ago. I think it is great to give younger kids a crack and let them take my spot,” said Marcus Stoinis.https://t.co/Xh9DRlcuen
— Cricket.com (@weRcricket) April 24, 2024
The 34-year-old from Perth was not included in Australia’s ODI squad against the West Indies earlier this year, but he is still expected to be part of the T20 World Cup squad set to battle it out in the West Indies and the USA come June. Stoinis is likely to occupy the crucial No. 5 position in the Australian batting lineup during the marquee tournament.
His current contract for the 2023-24 season extends until June 30th, making him eligible for World Cup selection. However, Stoinis’ ambitions stretch further. He expressed a clear desire to represent Australia in the upcoming white-ball series against England (away) in September and against Pakistan at home in November.
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This news comes on the heels of Stoinis, along with teammates Ashton Agar, Andrew Tye, and Jason Behrendorff, opting to forgo Western Australian contracts and pursue freelance opportunities. This move further highlights Stoinis’ determination to carve his own path and continue proving his worth in the world of cricket.
