Two games in a row Australia have fielded poorly balanced sides due to fitness concerns around all-rounder Marcus Stoinis. It’s time for Australia to bite the bullet and replace the out-of-form Stoinis with Mitchell Marsh.
Despite Stoinis having been the weakest link in Australia’s ODI side over the past year, the selectors are rather strangely happy for the squad to be one man down while they wait for him to recover from a side strain.
Over the past year Stoinis has averaged just 23 with the bat from 23 ODIs, all while scoring at a dawdling rate of 4.88 runs per over. Meanwhile, with the ball he has averaged 38 at a sky-high economy rate of 6.36 runs per over.
Just as concerning as his lack of runs is his defensive batting style, which is out of place at No. 5 or No. 6 in an ODI order and has been affecting the balance of Australia’s line-up.
Stoinis has been patently out of form for the last two-thirds of his entire ODI career. Yet the selectors seem to be clinging to the hope he will begin batting like the man who thrashed 146* in just his second ODI.
The problem is that the further away we get from that phenomenal performance in New Zealand, the more it looks like an anomaly.
Cricket history is lined with players who charged onto the international scene, flourished for a period and then faded away. At first they caught opponents off guard. Then, once teams had time to analyse them, they identified flaws and planned accordingly.
For some time now Stoinis’ opponents seem to have noted how slowly he starts his innings and how unnatural it is for him to rotate the strike. Whereas for most ODI batsmen the infielders hang back on the edge of the circle, trying to stop boundaries rather than prevent singles, when Stoinis arrives at the crease watch how these same fieldsmen creep in.
They know he rarely displays aggression in his first 20 balls at the crease and that he also is not comfortable deflecting the ball into gaps. So the infielders come in off the circle to crowd Stoinis.
In the past year Stoinis has reached 20 balls faced in 11 ODI innings, and these were the number of runs he had after 20 balls: four, nine, nine, ten, ten, 11, 13, 15, 17, 20, 24.
That underscores just how often Stoinis plods along in his first seven overs or so at the crease. ODI batsmen stationed at five or six in the order rarely have the luxury to start their innings with such little urgency.
That is particularly so if the top order is doing a good job, meaning the middle order batsmen arrive in the last 15 to 20 overs of the innings with a need to score swiftly from the get-go.
Australia’s middle order is being given terrific platforms thanks to Aaron Finch, David Warner and Steve Smith, who combined have churned out 867 runs at 62 in this tournament. The role of numbers five, six and seven, then, is to capitalise on these good starts by taking on the bowlers.
Stoinis quite clearly prefers not to do this. He likes to take his time, but right now time is at a premium.
Can Mitch Marsh offer greater potency with the blade at five? His ODI record suggests he can, but he is also coming in cold, having not played in this format for Australia for more than a year.
But with Stoinis having been categorically proven to be bereft of form and to have a batting style which does not mesh with his role, where is the risk in replacing him with Marsh?
One major selling point with Marsh is his sensational ODI record against the three teams Australia are most likely to have to face should they make the semi-finals: England, India and New Zealand.
In 26 matches against those three sides Marsh has scored 781 runs at 41 (strike rate of 101), while also taking 29 wickets at 25. Consistently across his ODI career he has been at his best against the strongest ODI teams.
There is little doubt Australia would be better balanced with a second all-rounder in their top six alongside Glenn Maxwell. While they have got away with fielding only one all-rounder in their past two matches, against Sri Lanka and Pakistan, that would be a big gamble against much stronger batting units like India and England.
Australia’s next match is against Bangladesh on Thursday. With England and New Zealand to follow after that, this match against Bangladesh has a lower profile and less pressure. It is the easiest possible time to introduce Marsh during this tournament.
It would be folly to instead try to nurse an out-of-form Stoinis through the rest of this World Cup.
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
Well the suprising thing is Watson was MVP in PSL 2019 and on the highlights for one of the finals matches he took a wicket. Also one of the few foreigners prepared to play in Pakistan where the end of the series was played. Dont know how anything else about his bowling in the PSL but his batting was sensational. The issue with Cricket Australia is this contract system, if they gave Kyrgios or Tomic a 2 million dollar a year contract they would be bed bound for the whole contract. Watson I think this is his first time not bowling in the IPL. whereas the last part of his career internationally he frequently missed out on bowling. If you payed cricketers by how many overs they bowled it would be a different story.
dat
Roar Rookie
Dhawan, not Rohit. Also he has been ruled out of the entire tournament, since he was the only lefty in the 11, Pant has been added as a replacement.
Jeff
Roar Rookie
Hi Ouch. I was reflecting on our discussion. On review of the posts, I suspect you may have thought I was disrespectful in my original post to your OP. That wasn't the meant to be the case. And it wasn't at all. I actually wrote it in a light-hearted way as I absolutely agree with your proposition in that yes, I would take Stokes in a heartbeat and without question (hence "why would you even ask!)". Apologies if I made you feel defensive because the tone of my thoughts didn't translate in written form. But I'd still take Roy and Root too if the choice was on offer! Sorry again. Jeff
Mark Soong
Roar Rookie
Not at all, the spot that freed up by Marcus Stoinis, replace it with a reliable 3rd seamer in Jhye Richardson. He would be the Australia wicket taking option as the first change bowler with NCN the other bowler. We just have to trust that our batsman from 1 to 7 (Carey) will make the runs for a competitive total to defend. For the knock out games if Australia qualifies, please bring back Adam Zampa he will be our trump card as with Shane Warne 20 years ago in England.
Ronan O'Connell
Expert
I don't think it would hinder any of the teams if, for example, the squads were extended to 18 players from 15, with the same rule regarding changes to the squad The "big powers" can still only play 11 players each match, what's the difference? With 7 back-up players you could have every base covered, given proper selections. But just 4 back-up players is hindering teams from playing their best XI.
Jeff
Roar Rookie
why would you post an abusive response like that?
Ouch
Roar Rookie
ok got it. Comprehension is not your strong point.
Peter Warrington
Guest
I generally like the idea that you can pick whoever you bloody like whenever you bloody like, but that really exaggerated the advantage of big powers and home teams. So I guess it is afl equalisation, ICC style, and thus I grudgingly accept it :( ?
Jeff
Roar Rookie
Yes, I would take Stokes.
Ouch
Roar Rookie
kinda missed the point there Jeff.
Jeff
Roar Rookie
Touche
sheek
Roar Guru
"Mitch Marsh must replace Marcus Stoinis". My, how the worm has turned! The much maligned Marsh brothers are back in favour?
Harvey Wilson
Roar Rookie
We need a Tonya Harding to come forward :P
Harvey Wilson
Roar Rookie
Urggh
Diamond Jackie
Roar Rookie
Thanks Geoff
Diamond Jackie
Roar Rookie
You know what we are going to get, don’t you? Shaun AND Mitch in the side. One injury, two Marshes come in. Not sure how we got back to that!!!
anon
Roar Pro
I will be filthy with Langer if his poor selections cost us a World Cup. His selections already cost us the home Test series against India.
Jeff
Roar Rookie
Sorry Ronan, for Rowan!
Jeff
Roar Rookie
Sorry. Ronan.
Jeff
Roar Rookie
Good article Rowan. 90 comments within the day is a good indicator of how well received the piece was received.