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Marcus Stoinis shared his perspective on being excluded from the Australian central contracts subsequent to his decisive innings against Chennai Super Kings (CSK), propelling Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) to victory in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 encounter on Tuesday (April 23) triumphing by 6 wickets.
Marcus Stoinis’ superb innings leads LSG to victory
Exhibiting his pinnacle performance against CSK, Stoinis amassed an undefeated 124 runs off 63 deliveries, showcasing 13 boundaries and 6 maximums. On the heels of his stellar performance, LSG successfully pursued an imposing target of 211 runs with 3 balls to spare in their innings. Demonstrating composure, Stoinis aggressively tackled Mustafizur Rahman in the final over when LSG required 17 runs for victory. Collaborating with Nicholas Pooran and Deepak Hooda, Stoinis guided LSG to a triumphant finish.
Also READ: Cricket Australia announces central contracts for 2024-25; Marcus Stoinis misses out
Stoinis reflects on Australian central contract omission
Post-match, during the presentation ceremony, versatile all-rounder Stoinis articulated his determination to continue vying for a place in the national squad despite being omitted from the central contracts for the 2024-25 season. The 34-year-old acknowledged his exclusion and welcomed the emergence of young talent to secure their positions. Nevertheless, he expressed eagerness to participate in the forthcoming T20 World Cup 2024, citing the IPL as optimal preparation for the prestigious tournament.
“I’ve got a great relationship with the [Australia] coach [Andrew McDonald]. Me not getting a contract, I knew that a while ago. I think it is great to give younger kids a crack and let them take my spot. I’m absolutely fine with that on the contract list. But on the playing front, obviously want to make sure that I’m there and that’s also why it’s so lucky for us and for me particularly to have this competition [the IPL], that’s why I love it so much,” Stoinis said.
Australia’s T20I setup for the World Cup 2024
Stoinis, whose absence from the central contracts for the 2024-25 term was confirmed in March, had remained discreet on the matter until now. While he remains contracted for the ongoing 2023-24 period until June 30, his exceptional performance in Chennai further solidifies his potential inclusion in Australia’s T20 World Cup squad under the leadership of Mitchell Marsh. Stoinis has consistently proven his worth in Australia’s T20I setup, contributing to a cohesive middle-order alongside the likes of Glenn Maxwell and Tim David.
