Stoinis to debut for Australia in England T20

A 26-year-old, who has fought back from the cricketing wilderness, will make his Australian debut in Monday’s Twenty20 clash with England in Cardiff.

Marcus Stoinis was once tipped to be the next big thing in Australian cricket.

In 2008, he toured Malaysia for the under-19 World Cup alongside his now-captain Steve Smith as well as Test quick Josh Hazlewood, short-form star James Faulkner and the late Phillip Hughes.

In the years that followed, the powerful allrounder made his first-class debut as a 19-year-old in 2009 – before losing his state contract with Western Australia and making the tough decision to head east, where he landed a spot with Victoria.

It is there that he’s resurrected his career, allowing him to become the next big-hitting allrounder to come off the Australian production line.

On Monday, he will slot in at No.6 in the batting, and provide Smith a versatile medium-pace option, as Australia play their one-off T20 clash with England.

“He’s certainly come a long way,” Smith said on Sunday.

“He’s improved every year, he’s thrown up good performances, first of all for WA, then moving over to Victoria – it was a big move for him.

“He’s put the numbers on the board and thoroughly deserves an opportunity here tomorrow.”

Stoinis is coming off a successful Sheffield Shield summer, plundering 785 runs at an average of 49.