Marcus Stoinis Expresses Strong Interest in Captaining Melbourne Stars in BBL|14

Marcus Stoinis, Australia’s prominent allrounder, has shown keen interest in captaining the Melbourne Stars following Glenn Maxwell’s decision to step down from the role. Stoinis, a standout player in the ongoing men’s T20 World Cup, shared his aspirations during an appearance on the Unplayable Podcast, stating he would “love” to lead the Stars as they aim to return to the finals in KFC BBL|14.

Maxwell’s departure as captain marks the end of a significant era, as he steps back to focus on his playing duties after six years at the helm. Stoinis, who has been a key player for the Stars since 2013, is considered the leading candidate to take over. He recently extended his contract with the club, ensuring his presence until at least the end of BBL|16.

The allrounder’s contributions to the team are noteworthy, having played 98 matches, second only to Maxwell’s 103, and securing the second-highest run tally for the club with 2656 runs, just behind Maxwell’s 2792.

Stoinis expressed his deep connection to the club, saying, “I would love to do it, I love the Stars. I’ve been there for what feels like forever and I’ve got no plans of going anywhere. That’s a team I want to create some success with.” He emphasized his commitment to the team and the city of Melbourne, looking forward to being around during the festive season.

If appointed, Stoinis would face the challenge of lifting the Stars from the lower half of the table and steering them towards their first Big Bash title. Despite reaching the finals eight times, the Stars have yet to secure a championship, with close misses in BBL|08 and BBL|09 under Maxwell’s leadership.

Stoinis remains optimistic about the club’s direction, crediting the positive changes made last season under new head coach Peter Moores. The addition of T20 high performance manager Clint McKay, a former Stars seamer and Australian assistant coach, is also seen as a crucial step in Cricket Victoria’s strategy to enhance their T20 teams’ performance.

Reflecting on the previous season, Stoinis noted, “I think we did take good steps forward last year. The feeling in the group was different. It feels like we’re building, it feels like we’ve got the right coaching staff. We’ve got a new coach, Peter Moores, he’s as experienced as any coach in the world right now … I honestly couldn’t speak higher of him.”

Stoinis’s leadership experience at the professional level includes captaining the Stars once in BBL|13 against Perth Scorchers in Maxwell’s absence. Despite limited captaincy experience, he views the potential role as a “fun, interesting challenge” and is enthusiastic about contributing to the home competition.

He also hinted at upcoming announcements regarding new signings for the Stars, suggesting that both he and Maxwell will enter this season’s tournament with a fresher mindset, contrasting with the previous year when the BBL began shortly after Australia’s ODI World Cup campaign in India.