The form of Australian all-rounder Marcus Stoinis should be a concern going into the World Cup.
Since Australia’s series against South Africa in November, Stoinis has averaged just 29.18 with the bat at a strike rate of 81.26.
Stoinis’ poor form didn’t start there. Furing last winter’s tour of England, Stoinis averaged just 15.20 at a strike rate of 83.51.
If Stoinis was striking at more the a run a ball he might be able to get away with those averages, but he isn’t.
The main issue with Stoinis is that he lacks game awareness.
When he starts his innings he bats far too slowly, when he should be trying to score a lot quicker.
When he gets out, he puts a lot of pressure onto the other batsman to make up the runs. The best example of this was the Big Bash final.
While Stoinis will probably be in the World Cup squad, Australia will need to take another all-rounder in case he does not perform.
They need someone who is able to combine with Glenn Maxwell to bowl at least ten overs between then. If not Australia may have to turn to Aaron Finch with the ball.
Ashton Turner would be an excellent backup all-rounder to take to England, but the fact that he is unable to bowl rules him out.
Here’s a look at some of the all-rounder options.
D’Arcy Short
ODI Record
Batting: 83 runs at 27.66, strike rate of 83.83
Bowling: 0 wickets for 59 runs, economy of 8.42
List A Record
Batting: 890 runs at 44.50, strike rate of 112.94
Bowling: 17 wickets at 40.17, economy of 5.85
Most of Short’s success in List A cricket has come while batting in the top three for Western Australia, but with the form of Finch and Usman Khawaja and the return of David Warner, it’s unlikely he’d get a game batting up the order.
While he has little experience batting down the order, he did bat at seven for one game during Australia’s tour of England last year and made 47 not out.
If he were to play, Nathan Lyon would probably be pushed out of the Australian line-up, with the Australian bowling attack consisting of three fast bowlers and Adam Zampa with Glenn Maxwell and Short bowling out the rest of the overs.
Even if he isn’t in the World Cup squad, he’ll probably be in the Australia A side for the one-day leg of the tour.
Mitch Marsh
ODI Record
Batting: 1428 runs at 35.70, strike rate of 93.08
Bowling: 44 wickets at 35.54, economy of 5.52
List A Record
Batting: 2875 at 37.33, strike rate of 92.29
Bowling: 84 wickets at 30.05, economy rate of 5.40
Despite his poor Test performances, Marsh boasts a strong ODI record.
He hasn’t played for the Australian ODI team in over a year, but was in the squad for the January series against India.
His overall ODI record makes him an attractive option.
(AP Photo/Andy Brownbill)
Moises Henriques
ODI Record
Batting: 81 runs at 9, strike rate of 68.06
Bowling: 7 wickets at 43.71, economy of 5.18
List A Record
Batting: 2474 runs at 33.43, strike rate of 87.14
Bowling: 77 wickets at 37.64, economy of 5.15
Despite having a decent domestic record, Henriques failed to perform at international level. He’d be unlikely to go to England.
Dan Christian
ODI Record
Batting: 273 runs at 21, strike rate of 88.92
Bowling: 20 wickets at 29.75, economy of 91
List A Record
Batting: 2844 runs at 32.68, strike rate of 101.64
Bowling: 107 wickets at 33.5, economy of 5.52
Christian would be an interesting selection because he doesn’t have a domestic contract and just plays Twenty20 cricket.
He could bat at No.7 as a lower-order hitter. He hasn’t played an ODI in more than five years so he’s unlikely to be considered.
Hilton Cartwright
ODI Record
Batting: 2 runs at 1, strike rate of 8.69
Bowling: N/A
List A Record
Batting: 1012 runs at 25.3, strike rate of 77.90
Bowling: 14 wickets at 50.57, economy of 6.09
Two years ago, Hilton Cartwright was a favorite of the Australian selectors.
He played two Tests and two ODIs but hasn’t been seen since.
His batting and bowling record in List A cricket makes it hard to see him get picked.
Marnus Labuschagne
List A Record
Batting: 686 runs at 38.11, strike rate of 84.58
Bowling: 0 wickets for 22 runs, economy rate of 7.33
Labuschagne has a decent domestic batting record, but the fact that he’s only bowled three overs in his entire List A career makes it hard to see him getting picked.
Although seeing as how much the selectors like him, nobody should be surprised if he ends up making the World Cup squad.
Cadfael
Roar Guru
Here I was worried that we were trying to find an allrounder for the Ashes series but this is only for the ODI seriers in England.
Rob
Guest
It’s funny how people view Stonis as a batsman and his value to the team. He starts slowly and puts pressure on other batting partners. Other batsmen have to make up for the slow start? That sounds like Shaun Marsh, as UK, Maxwell and Handscomb have been run out batting with Shaun in recent games? Stoinis strike rate 81.2 isn’t good enough when averaging 29. Stoinis fails under pressure as seen the BBL final. Well Australia just won against India in India. Shaun Marsh’s contribution, 3 bats averaging 9 runs at SR 59. Stoinis 4 bats averaging 46 at SR 81. On the all rounders roll Mitch Marsh has the better numbers but he isn’t being picked for Australia in white ball cricket? They’re picking the wrong Marsh and that’s disturbing to write.
Wes P
Roar Rookie
Wow! Tough crowd. Though I'm a Stoinis fan and I think his performances warrant a start. Consider 1) He played the bulk of the past two years with the weight of a dying father. Usman was allowed some slack! 2) He's carried a few niggling injuries hand and foot 3) He's shown match winning performances his 140+ vs New Zealand was rated by the likes of M. Crowd as great and he's shown an ability to bowl at the death too. As a WA man he's fought tooth and nail to be seen when establishment favourites like Marsh have kept him in the shadow most of his career. I reckon he'll shine come the time and I hope they keep the faith.
James GC
Roar Rookie
He is not a seam all-rounder and his bowling is only good enough for 5 overs in England.
Peter Warrington
Guest
he could be like Trevor Jesty and have the ball going at negative speed when it gets down the other end?
Insult_2_Injury
Roar Rookie
I thought Maxwell was supposed to be an all rounder?
DTM
Guest
I think they'll stick with Stoinis though.
DTM
Guest
I know you're talking pace all rounders but what about Agar? He's a clean hitter and can keep the runs down if used correctly. From this list, I actually like Christian - he's a big game player and can certainly explode with the bat.
Anuprayamajhi
Guest
Excellent article, Stoinis is getting away even with his poor performances and as mentioned here he lacks game awareness and if you watch closely then he has put the batting partners in tremendous pressure which eventually forced them to play rash shots. Seam all rounder has to fill 7-8 overs at least and anyone who believes Stoinis can bowl that many overs consistently is a fool. He averages 23 since that England tour. Australia must have a seam all rounder as a back up if they want to have options when they need to make a change. Australia isn't playing the WC in Asia so that Maxwell can chip in 7-8 overs and Stoinis can get away every time.
Kopa Shamsu
Guest
Aussies probably need a pace bowling all rounder which leaves ashton Turner out. The one that comes to mind is James Faulkner. But don't know what he has been doing lately. Let's forget getting back bits & pieces players which have been tried for 1 & half year. Mitchell Marsh? For God's sake, forgive me, but No, thank you.
Pumping Dougie
Roar Guru
I'm a big wrap for Faulkiner and he did well in the one test he was given in England. But what has his form been like domestically this season? I don't think he's done well with the bat for quite a while.
JamesH
Roar Guru
I don't think Watto's shoulder would survive a full rotation at this point.
JamesH
Roar Guru
His list A stats put him well behind most of the others in this list.
Rob JM
Guest
Which elbow did smith injure? What about Head?
Graham
Guest
agree with faulkner baffling he isn't in the above list? Having faulkner means we can genuinely put 50 overs of pressure on with the ball which makes it harder to score those 350+ scores against us. He also means we have 2 lower order finishers which makes it easier to chase 350+
DaveJ
Roar Rookie
When you look back at Stoinis replacing Mitch Marsh, it hasn’t worked. Marsh’s batting record in ODIs since the last World Cup is almost identical to Stoinis’s - average 38 @ 94/100 compared to Stoinis 39 @ 93. But Marsh’s bowling is way ahead – average of 37 at 5.6 per over compared to 46 at 6.1 per over. He also has a better List A batting record than Stoinis. But not sure they can afford to include a backup all rounder in the squad now. If they did it would probably be Short, to share some overs with Maxwell and Finch, although Short isn’t great against spin if he comes in at 6.
Peter Warrington
Guest
Bring back Watto, open with him and give him 4 overs with an older ball Or not...
jameswm
Roar Guru
Marsh has always been a good ODI player
Chris Kettlewell
Roar Guru
And right there, as you list the candidates, you see the problem. None of them are up to the quality required. Mitch Marsh had a period where he actually was one of our better ODI players. He shouldn't be anywhere near the test team, but if he can get anywhere near back to his best then he can be every bit the ODI player for Australia that Stokes is for England. Not sure where he's at right now. He's had some injuries too. But he really is the only viable alternative to Stoinis at this point really.
dungerBob
Roar Rookie
I'd add a 5th criteria Paul. 5) Needs to be able to handle spin. .. Batting down the list there's a big chance of coming in when the spinners are in full flight. Marsh is pretty good against the quicks but I've seen him struggle to get going against the spinners in the past. Not sure how he's been going against them lately though.