— Boria Majumdar
He has just won the award for the best Australian T-20 player and is looking forward to coming to India for the ODI series. And while playing for the Sharjah Warriors in the Dubai T-20 league, Marcus Stonis has one eye cast on what’s going on in India as we get ready for the start of the Border Gavaskar trophy in Nagpur on 9 February. Speaking to Boria Majumdar, Stoinis delved into how difficult it is to win in India against India, how much the absence of Pant and Bumrah could help Australia and what Virat Kohli’s return to form means for the forthcoming series.
Boria- Winning in India against India is the most difficult thing in world cricket. How do you see Australia’s chances as we await the start of the Border Gavaskar Trophy?
Marcus Stoinis- The record is an indication how good India is at home. They are a quality team and to be able to beat them in India is one of the most difficult things in world cricket. Having said that Australia is well prepared. Let me say this, we are as well prepared as we can possibly be. In Dave Warner and Usman Khawaja we have two very good openers and then in Steve Smith and Marnus we have two players who play spin extremely well. Travis head has had a dream run in the last year or so and it is a very strong batting unit. In bowling we have Lyon and our big quicks. I can’t wait for the start of the series. Also, if you look at the 2017 series, Australia was competitive from the word go. We won in Pune and Bengaluru too was close. The result notwithstanding there wasn’t much gap between the two teams.
Boria- Virat. Always someone who is the talk ahead of the series. And his come back to form must be something the Australians will be keeping an eye on.
Marcus Stoinis- Virat is one of the best ever. The age he is at and the stage he is in his career, he will want to use this series as his platform. The best players always choose the best series. We have seen in the T-20 world cup how good he was. It is an indication how hungry he is. He is certainly one who can push us back and we will have to get the better of him to be able to win this series. And I can tell you that we will be ready for him.
Boria- Australia will be missing Mitch Starc and John Hazlewood while India doesn’t have Rishabh Pant and Jasprit Bumrah. Your thoughts.
Marcus Stoinis- Look injuries are never good. You always want to play against the best players even if they are in the opposition. That’s what makes our sport what it is. Having said that we know what impact Rishabh and Jasprit can have and India will certainly miss them. Rishabh Pant had a huge impact in the last series in Australia and is a game changer. So is Jasprit. Any team will miss players of their quality. For us we will miss the reverse swing of someone like Starc in Nagpur. Having said that we have options. Young Lance Morris for example. What a dream debut it will be for him if he gets an opportunity.
Boria- Australia got Mahesh Pithiya to the nets to get ready for Ravi Ashwin. But if you see Ashwin closely, he isn’t just a bowler. He is a thinker. And Steve Smith v Ashwin will be one heck of a battle.
Marcus Stoinis- Absolutely it will be. Steve plays spin very well and if you see his recent record he is in red hot form. He had a fantastic Test series at home and then got a couple of hundreds in the BBL as well. He will be the best prepared for Ashwin who is one of the best ever. I have to say this will be an enthralling contest.
Boria- What are your thoughts on Pat Cummins as leader. He had to take over in difficult circumstances but has done fantastically well as skipper.
Marcus Stoinis- He has led the team extremely well. His clarity of thought and the way he addresses us in the team and the way he addresses the media, he knows what he is doing and what he wants. He has already achieved much as a leader and yet he is just starting out. It will be a very exciting period in Australian cricket under him and each of us are looking forward to it.
Boria- According to me it is a very close call at the start of the series with so much hinging on it. I will go in with 50-50 in the absence of Bumrah and Pant. Your thoughts.
Marcus- laughs. I will happily back you up on the 50-50! It will be a fantastic series for sure.