Hohns explains decision to select Stoinis

Marcus Stoinis’s ability with the ball was the deciding factor in his selection as Mitchell Marsh’s replacement in India, according to interim national selection chairman Trevor Hohns.

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Stoinis will fly to the subcontinent at the conclusion of Victoria’s Sheffield Shield clash with Western Australia in Alice Springs after Marsh was ruled out of the final two Tests of the Qantas Tour of India with a reoccurring shoulder injury.

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Hohns said Stoinis was one of the three contenders as Marsh’s replacement, pipping NSW captain Moises Henriques and Queensland youngster Jack Wildermuth due to his superior seam bowling and solid performances in India with Australia A in 2015.

"When we looked at the various options we had to replace Mitch there were two or three people that came to mind of course," Hohns said in Bengaluru on Thursday.

"Marcus was one, Moises was another, another young fella by the name of Jack Wildermuth was considered as well, he’s had a terrific season too.

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"Marcus got across the line simply because during Australia A here a couple of years ago he performed very well.

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"Secondly we consider to give us as many options as we possibly could have going forward in this series we considered the stronger bowler to the best option at this stage.

"That’s what got him across the line."

On that Australia A tour in 2015, Stoinis averaged 48 with the bat and claimed three wickets in two first-class matches against potential Test opponents Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Cheteshwar Pujara, Karun Nair and Umesh Yadav.

The 27-year-old has had a lean Sheffield Shield season with Victoria, averaging just 15.63 with a top score of 46 with the bat, while with the ball the right-armer has captured eight wickets at 39.5.

While both Henriques and Wildermuth have scored more runs than Stoinis (659 runs and 501 runs, respectively) and in the Queenslander’s case taken more wickets (18), Hohns said the new recruit’s brilliant performance earlier this year for the national 50-over side, where he scored 146no and almost pulled off a remarkable win against New Zealand in Auckland, showed he has what it takes to compete at the highest level.

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"That was very impressive, there’s no doubt about that," Hohns said of Stoinis’s maiden ODI century.

"What he showed there was his ability to perform under extreme pressure.

"That was obviously taken into account, albeit it was a different form of the game."

Hohns said Stoinis will not be an automatic replacement for Marsh, with a spinning allrounder and specialist batsman a possibility to fill the vacancy at No.6.

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If Stoinis is selected to make his Test debut, he says he is confident he can get the job done despite his recent Shield form.

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"I feel fine, there's no such thing as form really," Stoinis said.

"I went in and made 100 for Australia (in NZ) and hadn't made many runs before that.

"It's an exciting opportunity.

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"Every young cricketer dreams of making a Test debut but in a series like this, in India where it's 1-1, and you've got really good chance to step up and show your stuff.

"Hopefully I can impact the game and help the team win."