‘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

History and heritage united: Evzones receive warm reception in South Australia

Greek Australians were filled with pride on Thursday, 24 April 2025, as the Evzones stood in reverent formation during an official reception.

The Tymbakion Shorts: How a heirloom uncovered a hidden chapter of ANZAC history

When Dr Andrew Holyoake stumbled upon wartime memorabilia, he had no idea it would lead him to a long-forgotten chapter of WWII history.

A Kytherian ANZAC: The wartime legacy of Nicholas Theodore Georgeopoulos

Nicholas, the first child of Theodore N and Eirini Tzortzopoulos, was born in Sydney, Australia in 1917. Read more here.

Oakleigh Grammar commemorates ANZAC Day at special assembly

Oakleigh Grammar has honoured ANZAC Day with a moving whole school assembly to commence Term Two of 2025.

‘ANZAC Bread’: How Australian flour fed the survivors of Genocide

The Hobson’s Bay had sailed from Melbourne the previous month with thousands sacks of flour donated by Victorian farmers.

You May Also Like

The Greek Bar Jacket: Marianna Economou’s documentary takes us behind-the-scenes at Dior

Greek director Marianna Economou has produced documentary about last June’s spectacular Dior fashion show in Athens.

Greece’s first Jewish mayor Moisis Elisaf laid to rest

Greece's first Jewish mayor, Moisis Elisaf, was laid to rest on Sunday afternoon in the Greek city of Ioannina.

Greek Foreign Minister and Ambassador Spyrou meet to discuss Greek-Australian relations

Greek Foreign Minister, Nikos Dendias, and Australia's Ambassador to Greece, Arthur Spyrou, held a working lunch on Thursday in Athens.