Why Marcus Stoinis is Now an Australian New-Ball Bowler

The sight of Marcus Stoinis opening the bowling for Australia has raised eyebrows and created a buzz.
Australia’s white-ball cricket boasts an impressive range of new-ball bowlers. With the likes of Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood, who are usually pivotal, Mitchell Starc typically commands the other new-ball slot.
Spencer Johnson missed the World Cup squad, despite a potential ODI debut in South Africa. Similarly, Jason Behrendorff, despite an impressive show at the 2019 ODI World Cup, has seen limited action for Australia since then.
Nathan Ellis, not primarily a new-ball bowler, has demonstrated his adaptability in crucial situations. Sean Abbott, present in the squad, didn’t start with the new ball in the absence of Starc and Cummins.
In an unexpected move, Stoinis has been delivering with the new ball in recent games, marking a notable shift in his role. His success has been notable in both T20Is and ODIs, where he has impressed with controlled bowling during the powerplays.
Stoinis’ ability to swing the ball and his knack for causing trouble with extra bounce differentiate him from Australia’s specialist right-arm quicks. His adeptness in altering deliveries, employing cutters and varied seam positions, stands out.
The question arises: why this transformation?
Australia’s selectors have been experimenting with different combinations for the ODI World Cup. They’ve tested line-ups featuring eight batters, including four all-rounders, and have explored options with two spinners. Stoinis’ role as an opener provides the team’s captain more flexibility with the bowling resources. This strategic move allows specialist quicks to conserve overs for crucial phases or reserve them for death bowling. Additionally, it can influence spinners’ usage during the powerplay overs.
Despite his success with the ball, a glaring concern remains – Stoinis’ ODI batting. His average of 16.55 over four years, coupled with a lack of half-centuries in 29 innings, raises doubts about his place in the team, similar to Marnus Labuschagne’s situation.
Stoinis’ consistency with the bat has been lacking, unlike his teammate Labuschagne, who faced similar scrutiny before his exceptional performance in Bloemfontein. However, Stoinis maintains a higher strike rate, contrasting Labuschagne’s slower strike rate during his lean phase.
While the move to solidify Australia’s batting depth has not always yielded anticipated results in terms of big scores, it has proven beneficial on challenging surfaces. However, Stoinis’ crucial role with the ball becomes amplified considering the fitness concerns surrounding other all-rounders like Mitch Marsh, Cameron Green, and Glenn Maxwell.
Stoinis himself has been managed cautiously due to past injuries, with a careful balancing act between his batting and bowling responsibilities. Despite his success with the new ball, his focus remains on improving his batting performance for Australia.

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