Marcus Stoinis hits record Big Bash League score, after homophobic slur controversy

·

After smashing the highest score in Big Bash League history, Greek-Australian, Marcus Stoinis says he carried the burden of unleashing a homophobic slur last week.

The Melbourne Stars allrounder was fined $7,500 for abusing Melbourne Renegades quick Kane Richardson in a heated derby on January 4 but avoided a ban over the incident.

Stoinis said he felt uneasy heading into Sunday night’s clash with the Sydney Sixers because of the fallout from that exchange.

But any early nerves dissipated as the 30-year-old belted a scintillating unbeaten 147 from 79 balls at the MCG to smash D’Arcy Short’s BBL mark of 122 not out.

“I’ve definitely carried it with me. Maybe even today it was probably why I was nervous,” Stoinis said.

“It didn’t sit well with my character and who I want to be.

“He’s [Richardson] a good mate. Over the last couple of games I think we’ve played he’s wound me up a few times but it’s no excuse to use words like that.

“[Richardson] was trying to get a reaction out of me and unfortunately I took that bait.

“I’ve got to give myself some slack, I’m human and can make mistakes as well, and hopefully other people see that as genuine.”

Richardson, who is in India for Australia’s ODI series that starts on Tuesday, said on Sunday that the pair had spoken and cleared the air.

“It was just harmless cricket chat,” Richardson said from Mumbai.

“He looked more angry than I have ever seen him. I’m not sure what he was thinking.

“The learning has to be that this kind of thing doesn’t happen again.

“To be honest, I didn’t need an apology for myself — he didn’t offend me.

Stoinis’s innings — the third best by an Australian in Twenty20s behind Aaron Finch’s 172 and 156 in internationals — included 13 fours and eight sixes.

“By that reaction it meant a lot to him,” Shane Warne said on Fox Cricket after Stoinis made his century. “He really wanted to do it for his team at the MCG.

“We’ve seen how well he’s done this year at the top of the order. He can bat anywhere in this form of the game, he’s a super player.”

The 207-run opening stand between Stoinis and Hilton Cartwright (59 no) is the record highest BBL partnership, rocketing past former Stars Rob Quiney and Luke Wright’s 172 in 2012.

The BBL’s leading run-scorer this season, Stoinis is going to be hard for Australian selectors to ignore in the lead-up to the Twenty20 World Cup.

AAP

Cretan Convention - Web Banner

Advertisement

Share:

KEEP UP TO DATE WITH TGH

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

Advertisement

Latest News

From crisis to compassion: Timos Roussos and his family’s mercy mission in war-torn Cyprus

When Turkish troops landed on Cyprus on 20 July 1974, six-year-old Timos Roussos was sitting on the floor of his family’s home in Lemesos.

A granddaughter returns: Georgia Georgiou retraces her yiayia’s occupied village in Cyprus

When Georgia Georgiou handed over her Cypriot ID at the border checkpoint to cross into occupied northern Cyprus, she felt an ache.

‘You never get over it’: A childhood shattered by the Turkish invasion of Cyprus

On a warm July morning in 1974, 10-year-old Anastasia Di Loreto (née Karatzia) was jolted awake by the sound of bombs falling on Kyrenia.

Cyprus: The paradox of tolerance and impunity for Turkey

The lack of a unified, systematic and practical strategy on the part of Greece has led the Cyprus crisis into national disarray.

Lost homes and lingering hope: Greek-Cypriots reflect on Turkish invasion and its aftermath

From hidden stories to haunting memories, two Greek-Cypriot men share what it means to carry the burden of Cyprus’ past.

You May Also Like

Vasili’s Taxidi: Sentas Bros Fruit Shop – the larger-than-life character of Tony Sentas

One of those shops was the famous ‘Sentas Bros Fruit Shop’ which was run by Andonis and Yiannis Sentas for forty five years

Dimitris Papadakis’ daring escape to Crete after war breaks out in Greece in 1940

Dimitris Papadakis shares with The Greek Herald his daring escape to Crete after war breaks out in Greece in 1940.

Australian Open 2024 draw: Who will Stefanos Tsitsipas and Maria Sakkari face?

Australian Open 2024 draw has taken place today and the first round opponents of Stefanos Tsitsipas and Maria Sakkari have been revealed.