Marcus Stoinis Is Unlucky To Be Left Out: Ricky Ponting

One of the major surprises from the squad announcement of the Australia National Cricket Team for South Africa series was the exclusion of Marcus Stoinis. Despite having such an incredible stint in Big Bash League (BPL), the selection panel didn’t give him a call-up in any of the two limited-overs squads. Speaking of the same, Ricky Ponting urges Stoinis to keep performing with the bat.

On Tuesday, Stonis was named the BBL’s domestic player of the tournament, but he was left out of both squads. Australia has recalled allrounder Mitchell Marsh and Glenn Maxwell for the one-day international and Twenty20 tour of South Africa.

Marsh last featured in an Australian side in the Ashes series last September. He hasn’t played an ODI since January 2018 or a T20 international since October 2018.

Meanwhile, Maxwell last played for Australia in October before taking an indefinite break from cricket, citing mental health issues. He returned to action in the BBL for the Melbourne Stars.

It is harsh on Marcus Stoinis – Ricky Ponting

Former Australia skipper Ponting on Tuesday said that all-rounder Stoinis is ‘unlucky’ to be left out of the ODI and T20I series against South Africa. He asks the all-rounder to not get disappointed and score runs consistently to throw his name on the selection table.

“He’s unlucky on the back of being in sensational form, Stoinis, but all he can do is keep scoring runs and keep throwing his name up there for selection,” cricket.com.au quoted Ponting as saying. “It is harsh on Stoinis but he has just got to keep performing,” he added.

“I just don’t think there was room for both Stoinis and Mitch Marsh in those squads and they’ve decided to go with Marsh,” Ponting said. Continuity in the T20 team is really important and I don’t think there will be too many changes to that squad picked today ahead of the T20 World Cup,” he added.

Australia will play three T20s against South Africa — on 21st, 23rd and 26th February — before three one-dayers on 29th February, 4th March and 7th March repectively.

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Australia squads:

ODIs: Aaron Finch (captain), Alex Carey, Pat Cummins, Ashton Agar, Josh Hazlewood, Marnus Labuschagne, Mitch Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Kane Richardson, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Matthew Wade, David Warner, Adam Zampa.

T20Is: Aaron Finch (captain), Alex Carey, Pat Cummins, Sean Abbott, Ashton Agar, Mitch Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Jhye Richardson, Kane Richardson, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Matthew Wade, David Warner, Adam Zampa.