Marcus Stoinis, an Australian all-rounder, has extended his contract with the Melbourne Stars in the Big Bash League (BBL). The three-year deal preserves his spot with the Stars until the end of BBL16 in 2026-27, cementing his relationship with the team.
The decision to stay with the Melbourne Stars was not without suspense, as numerous clubs indicated interest in signing the versatile player. The Perth Scorchers, Stoinis’ first BBL team for which he played three games in the 2012-13 season, were among those interested in bringing him back to Western Australia. Stoinis, who had been wearing the Stars’ green since the following season, elected to stay with the Melbourne-based organisation.
Stoinis’ dedication to the Stars extends beyond the boundary ropes, as he approaches a milestone that only a few players achieve: 100 games for the same BBL team. Glenn Maxwell, a former Stars captain, completed the feat last season.
With Maxwell stepping aside from leadership, Stoinis looms as a possible candidate to captain the team, adding another layer of responsibility to his already demanding role.
He is now playing for Durban’s Super Giants in the South African T20 League, which is an affiliate of his IPL side, the Lucknow Super Giants. Last year, he travelled to the United States to play in the San Francisco Unicorns’ inaugural Major League Cricket event. The Stars, who are officially affiliated with Cricket Victoria, are also related to Stoinis’ accomplishments in the ever-changing global T20 league environment.
While Marcus prepares for the next West Indies series with the Australian T20I squad, he still hopes to make the T20 World Cup roster. However, being left out of the ODI squad has strengthened his resolve to focus on T20 franchise cricket in the future years. The thought of missing out on a Cricket Australia central contract next season fuels his drive to make a mark in the game’s shortest format.
