Image Credit- PTI
Due to a back problem, Marcus Stoinis will miss
Australia’s three-match Twenty20 International Series in New Zealand. Aaron
Hardie, a fellow West Australian all-rounder, will be called up for Australia’s
final series before the Twenty20 World Cup in June.
Due to the anticipated birth of his third child, Australia’s vice-captain and
wicketkeeper Matthew Wade is also scheduled to miss the first game of the
series on Wednesday in Wellington. However, he is expected to be available for
the final two games in Auckland on Friday and Sunday.
Even though Stoinis injured his back during the second
Twenty20 International against the West Indies in Adelaide on Sunday, he was
still allowed to participate. While batting, he made 16 off of 15, but he also
contributed to Glenn Maxwell’s 80-run stand by feeding him the strike. He then
went on to take 3 for 36 to maintain his great bowling form.
He did not entirely address his back complaint, though, so he missed Tuesday’s
third match against the West Indies and was later ruled out of the T20I series
against New Zealand. This was after a lengthy travel to Perth. It is
anticipated that Stoinis will be ready for the late-March start of the IPL.
Although Stoinis was left off of the ODI team for the
World Cup semifinal and final last year, he is still an important member of
Australia’s T20I squad. He was a key member of Australia’s victorious team in
the T20 World Cup in 2021, having saved matches against South Africa and
Pakistan in the semifinals. Additionally, he struck a magnificent fifty-score
against Sri Lanka at the Australia 2022 T20 World Cup. Having developed into a
vital wicket-taker in the powerplay and middle overs over the past year, his
bowling has been significant for Australia as well.
However, the Australian leadership and he continue to
have concerns about his injury history. owing of his past, Australia has been
hesitant to bowl him in back-to-back matches. He also missed games leading up
to and during the ODI World Cup owing to a variety of soft tissue problems.
The other all-rounders for Australia are similarly plagued by specific
injuries; both Maxwell’s broken leg from earlier in the series and captain
Mitchell Marsh’s ankle require constant attention.