All-rounder Marcus Stoinis is eager to use this year's Indian Premier League to push for a berth in Australia's T20 World Cup squad.
Stoinis has starred in the ongoing 2019-20 Big Bash League, striking 607 runs in 14 innings for the Melbourne Stars. His tally is the highest in this BBL's season.
Previously a middle-order batsman and right-arm seamer, Stoinis has been deployed as an opener and has not bowled for the Stars.
He will play for the Delhi Capitals in the Indian Premier League later this year. The Capitals (previously called the Delhi Daredevils) have never won the IPL. Delhi are priced at 8.00 by Bet365 to win the 2020 IPL.
The 30-year-old Stoinis wants to stay in contention for a place in Australia's squad for the T20 World Cup (formerly known as the World Twenty20). Australia will host the tournament later this year.
Stoinis at the IPL
“I'll go to the IPL in two months and most likely I'll be batting five or six. So to me, I see it as I'm adaptable, I'm trying to do everything I can in the game and if the selectors see it as ‘you're an opening batsman' or whatever, that's up to them,” said Stoinis.
“You've got to be careful with what you feel you deserve and I think I've probably been guilty of having expectations that you think other people should reward you for certain things. So I'm very aware, I'm just enjoying what I'm doing. I understand that the national selectors wanted me to go back to domestic cricket, or Big Bash cricket and dominate, so hopefully I've sent that message.”
The Stars topped the eight-team table after the round-robin stage of the 2019-20 BBL. They will contest Friday's Qualifier against the Sydney Sixers in Melbourne.
“I've heard a few people say maybe we got complacent and that sort of stuff but also there's been a few opportunities to, with injury and that sort of stuff, to give people a chance and we're trying to find this opening partnership as well. I don't think it was complacency, it's more just the fact you've got to be adaptable and we're heading now to the pointy end and we've got pretty much our full team available,” concluded Stoinis.