Marcus Stoinis, who played an important all-round role for Australia to win the first T20I against India at Brisbane on Wednesday, believes they are still a good side despite missing some key players at present.

Since Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft have been suspended in this March due to their involvement in the ball-tampering scandal during Cape Town Test, Australia’s performances have declined in international cricket. However, Stoinis believes the team has still enough strength despite the recent things haven’t gone their way.

After the Brisbane T20I, Stoinis said, “We have got good memories in the team. We dominated T20s last year. We were in good form not so long ago. Obviously, things have not gone our way but we know we are still a good side.”

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In the thrilling rain-interrupted encounter during the Brisbane T20I, Australia won by four runs in DLS method. After scoring 158/4 in 17 overs, Australia had to defend 174 runs target that was adjusted with the help of the DLS method. In reply, the visitors India managed to score 169/7 at the end of 17 overs.

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The 29-year-old Stoinis first played an important knock of unbeaten 33 runs off 19 balls and provided a crucial 78-run partnership with Glenn Maxwell for the fourth wicket.

Talking about his batting effort, Stoinis said, “It was good fun. They showed faith in me at number five. We were focussed on a building a partnership and we got that.”

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Meanwhile, he was also successful with the ball in hand as his bowling figure was 3-0-27-2. In the last over, India needed 13 runs to win but Stoinis bowled brilliantly and picked up two back-to-back wickets of Krunal Pandya (2 runs) and Dinesh Karthik (30 runs off 13 balls) and conceded only eight runs to secure the series leading victory.

Speaking on his bowling, Stoinis added, “In this particular game there were longer boundaries. Also, wind, the conditions were tricky. We were trying to bowl yorkers but they ended up being beamers. So, it is something we are working on.”