‘I’ve failed in situations’: How Marcus Stoinis went from outcast to World Cup hero

·

Marcus Stoinis has opened up about his turbulent sporting career and how Australian cricket legend, Ricky Ponting, helped resurrect his international career.

In an interview with The Courier Mail, Stoinis speaks about how in January 2019 he was whisked up to Canberra to replace Matthew Renshaw in the Test squad against Sri Lanka.

Everything went downhill from there as “a baggy green… never arrived and he has rarely seen a red ball since.” Stoinis also suffered two side strains, made a second-ball duck in the semi-final loss to England and top-scored with 22.

But he says these setbacks helped him develop the ‘scar tissue’ he needed to grow.

READ MORE: Marcus Stoinis could lose chance to play Test cricket after mentoring young gun.

Marcus Stoinis.

“I’ve failed in situations,” Stoinis told the newspaper.

“I didn’t wonder if I’d played my last game (for Australia), but I was definitely wondering how long it was going to take to come back.”

It took 14 months to come back and all the while Stoinis’ good mate, Ricky Ponting, supported him behind the scenes and even purchased the young gun for $980,000 in the Indian Premier League auction.

“It sometimes helps to have that confirmation from such a legend of our game,” Stoinis said in the interview.

READ MORE: Shane Warne: Marcus Stoinis deserves a place in the Australia squad.

Marcus Stoinis shows off the T20 World Cup at the MCG.

Later, Stoinis was also in Australia’s World Cup squad and twice got the team out of jail in the United Arab Emirates — in the World Cup opener against South Africa and then in that epic semi-final against Pakistan.

READ MORE: ‘As Greek Australian, hard to keep cool’: Stoinis leads Aussies home in World Cup opener.

How did he keep motivated?

“You use multiple things to spur you on,” he concluded.

“As athletes you need a bit of (a spur). Sometimes you remember the things that the journos say, you write them down and you add it to the fire in the belly just to keep you going.”

Source: The Courier Mail.

Advertisement

Share:

KEEP UP TO DATE WITH TGH

By subscribing you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.

Advertisement

Latest News

From Athens to Adelaide: Hellenic bonds strengthened at dinner for Loverdos

South Australia’s Greek community gathered at the Mortlock Chamber to honour visiting Deputy Minister Ioannis Loverdos.

Hellenic Lyceum of Sydney pays tribute to women of courage and resistance

The Hellenic Lyceum of Sydney hosted a deeply moving and meticulously researched presentation titled Greek Heroines of WWII.

Anemones in full bloom, 25 years of Greek dance and giving

The hall was brimming with warmth, laughter, dance, and homemade food; unmistakable signs you’d stepped into an Anemones celebration.

Sydney Olympic may be forced to drop new logo over Olympic symbol breach

Sydney Olympic FC may be forced to change its new logo after it was found to breach protections over official Olympic symbols.

Greek Australian community leader Nola Radiotis honoured with Senior Award

The Victorian Senior of the Year Awards took place at Government House on this Wednesday, October 22, 2025. 

You May Also Like

Manager at Greek restaurant AMMOS in SA angered after firebombing attack

In the early hours of Monday, February 26, a popular Greek restaurant was targeted and left in flames in North Adelaide.

Greek Community of Canberra aim to make language learning accessible to residents of regional Australia

"Let's make it national." John Loukadellis speaks to The Greek Herald about how the Greek Community of Canberra is bringing Greek language and culture education to adults across the country.

Fmr policeman who made up same-sex relationship with George Sclavos found guilty of fraud

A former police officer has been found guilty of misappropriating funds from the George Sclavos' accounts within hours of his death.