Stoinis gets chance to push his T20 World Cup credentials having been called up to the side for New Zealand series.
After being called up for the three-match series against New Zealand, Marcus Stoinis has an opportunity to strengthen his case for a spot in the T20 World Cup. However, Spencer Johnson’s chances of replacing Mitchell Starc seem slim, as the fast bowler is unlikely to be fit until early next year.
To play in the Hundred, Stoinis agreed with the selectors to skip the most recent series against South Africa and the West Indies, but he is still eligible for the World Cup. As he works towards a bowling comeback, he rejoins a team that will not include Cameron Green, who will instead play in the Sheffield Shield’s opening round.
A key member of the T20I pace attack, Nathan Ellis will also miss the trip to New Zealand since his wife, Connie, is expecting their first child. Ellis is a completely different bowler than Starc, but after the latter’s T20I retirement, Ellis is now guaranteed to start at the World Cup.
If Stoinis is selected for the World Cup team, he will probably compete for a middle-order finishing position, though his medium pace also makes him a useful alternative and has been utilised with the new ball.
One well-known person who most certainly won’t be attending the competition is Starc. Another left-arm quick, Johnson was considered a potential successor, especially in white-ball cricket, having claimed 14 wickets in eight Twenty20 Internationals. However, a back injury he suffered during the IPL will keep him out of action for the remainder of the season. Before being pulled, Johnson was first included in the West Indies team in late July.
“The latest update for Spencer is that it’ll be sometime in the new year that he’ll start to come back online again,” chair of selectors George Bailey said. “What that looks like and at what point, I don’t think there’s anything definitive on that, still hoping that he can have an impact both domestically and potentially internationally towards the back end of the [season].”