SCG - Fourth Test (starts 3rd Jan), page-5

Stoinis knows where he sits, and it's not in the Test side

Marcus Stoinis remains appreciative of the support he’s getting from Shane Warne but says Australian selectors have made it clear to him that Mitchell Marsh is their preferred Test all-rounder.

Warne, an outspoken advocate of Stoinis’ Test bona fides, was at it again on Tuesday night as the Australian white-ball mainstay took 2-26 from three overs and blasted 78 not out from 49 balls to lead the Melbourne Stars to victory against the Melbourne Renegades in the Big Bash League derby at the MCG.

Working in his commentary role on Foxtel, Warne said Stoinis, whose Sheffield Shield record is modest since returning to Western Australia in 2017, was not necessarily in direct competition with the under-fire Marsh, with the leg-spinning great suggesting that Stoinis could play as a specialist batsman rather than taking the all-rounder spot that has largely belonged to fellow West Australian Marsh in recent years.

Stoinis said he was grateful that Warne was in his corner but didn’t think it meant all that much.

"It’s obviously great to have support, but equally you wouldn’t have to look pretty far to find something negative," Stoinis said.
Stoinis, a regular in Australia’s one-day international Twenty20 international sides, explained that national selectors had told him that Marsh was ahead of him when it came to red ball cricket.

"The recent feedback is 'keep going with my white ball stuff'. With Test cricket, Mitchell Marsh is the all-rounder obviously," Stoinis said.

As a member of the Renegades’ side, Stoinis’ former Victorian teammate Dan Christian had a close-up view of Stoinis’ powerful hitting on Tuesday night. Christian said he saw no reason why Stoinis couldn’t hold down the No.6 position in Test cricket.

"I don’t see why not," Christian said.

"A couple of years there where we won the Sheffield Shield and he was comfortably our best player. He was scoring lots of runs at three. His bowling’s improved now as well. I think he’ll be more than capable of holding down that role."

Stoinis was philosophical when asked whether it was frustrating that he couldn’t press his claim for a Test recall for the two and ½ months of the BBL. "It’s just the schedule. You’ve got to get the games in," Stoinis said.

Stoinis was elevated to the top of the order on Tuesday night, and said he enjoyed opening, where he had batted previously for the Stars. "I just like playing cricket, so I want to face as many balls as I can."

https://www.theage.com.au/sport/cri...t-s-not-in-the-test-side-20190102-p50p5h.html

P.S. It's truly ridiculous (but sad) that one of our best batsmen going around (plus a very useful bowler) ain't playing any test match cricket for Australia lol