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Marcus Stoinis’ star is on the rise and he has done his Test selection claims no harm with a blistering BBL innings.
Shane Warne again backed his credentials as Stoinis’ unbeaten 78 led the Melbourne Stars to an easy local derby win over the Renegades.
After the Renegades’ batting woes continued, the Stars cruised to a seven-wicket win with 13 balls left, extending their derby domination to 10-4.
Stoinis opened and closed out the match with his fourth six, also hitting four fours in his 49-ball knock.
He took 2-26 in three overs as well.
With the Australian Test top order in strife, Warne said Stoinis deserves a chance.
“I’ve been saying all summer (Stoinis) can play red ball cricket, and I don’t think it’s straight competition between him and Mitch Marsh,” Warne said in commentary.
“He can play as a batsman. He’s an absolute weapon.”
Asked about his Test chances, Stoinis said Marsh is the Australian Test team’s all-rounder option.
“It’s obviously great to have support, but equally you wouldn’t have to go far to find something negative as well,” he said.
“It’s good to have the good and the bad, it’s just the balance.”
While the Stars never looked in trouble, their cause was helped when fellow opener Ben Dunk had an early life.
Dunk was on one when he appeared to be caught behind, but the umpire was unmoved and there is no DRS in the BBL.
He struck 32 in a 67-run stand that set up the successful run chase, while captain Glenn Maxwell also hit 33 from 22 balls.
The marquee clash on Tuesday night attracted 46,418 fans, below the expectation of between 50,000-60,000.
It is well down on the 80,000 attendance for the same game on January 2, three years ago.
Concerns are growing about the BBL in its eighth season, with early-season crowds and TV ratings stagnating.
The Renegades blew a 52-run opening stand between Sam Harper and Mackenzie Harvey, slumping to 5-80 before a 50-run partnership between Dan Christian and Beau Webster steadied the innings.
They are without a half-century after four matches and now share a 2-2 record with the Stars.
“We were probably 20 or 30 short and it was just as simple as Stoinis went on and got 78 and we didn’t have anyone get 50,” Christian said.
Nepalese leg-spin revelation Sandeep Lamichhane bowled captain Tom Cooper for 10 with a gem of a delivery.
Lamichhane now leaves Australian for about a month on Bangladesh Premier League duties.
© AAP
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