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In a significant move, Australian all-rounder Marcus Stoinis has extended his contract with the Melbourne Stars in the Big Bash League (BBL). The three-year extension ensures his presence with the Stars until the conclusion of BBL16 in the 2026-27 season, further solidifying his association with the franchise.
The decision to stay with the Melbourne Stars was not without its drama, as several BBL clubs expressed interest in acquiring Stoinis’s versatile services. Notably, the Perth Scorchers, Stoinis’s initial BBL team where he had a brief stint in the 2012-13 season, were among the clubs eager to bring him back to Western Australia. Despite the enticing offers, Stoinis, who has been donning the green of the Stars since the subsequent season, opted to continue his journey with the Melbourne-based franchise.
Beyond being a crucial player on the field, Marcus Stoinis is approaching a remarkable milestone that only a select few achieve — 100 games for the same BBL team. This feat, achieved last season by former Stars captain Glenn Maxwell, adds to Stoinis’s legacy with the franchise.
With Maxwell stepping down from the leadership role, Stoinis emerges as a potential candidate for captaincy, adding another layer of responsibility to his multifaceted role within the team.
Currently participating in the South African T20 League for Durban’s Super Giants, affiliated with his IPL franchise Lucknow Super Giants, Stoinis continues to make waves in global T20 leagues. Last year, he ventured into the United States, playing in the inaugural Major League Cricket tournament for the San Francisco Unicorns. The Stars, administratively linked to Cricket Victoria, share a connection with Stoinis’s exploits in the evolving landscape of global T20 leagues.
While preparing for the upcoming West Indies series with the Australian T20I squad, Stoinis remains hopeful of earning a spot in the T20 World Cup squad. However, being omitted from the ODI squad has fueled his determination to focus on T20 franchise cricket in the coming years. The prospect of missing out on a Cricket Australia central contract next season only adds more fuel to his desire to leave a significant impact in the shortest format of the game.
–IANS
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