Former Australian allrounder Shane Watson has no doubt Marcus Stoinis will get an opportunity to play Test cricket but he has the job of trying to restrict his influence on a BBL game on Friday.
Stoinis is in the Melbourne Stars squad selected to take on the Sydney Thunder side captained by Watson at Manuka Oval, in both team's first BBL game of the season.
Highly regarded Stoinis has played 21 one-day and 17 T20 game for Australia but the 29-year-old allrounder has yet to break into the Test side despite getting plenty of plaudits.
Watson described Stoinis as one of his favourite players in world cricket.
"I think he's a very skilled allrounder in all formats," he said.
"In the end, I'd be surprised if he doesn't have an opportunity to be able to play Test cricket for Australia at some stage
"He's a skilful guy, he's a technically very sound four-day batsman as well as we've seen in one day and T20 cricket, he's a power hitter as well.
"I've got no doubt at some stage, he'll get a (Test) opportunity."
Thunder's squad this season includes England Test captain and batting linchpin Joe Root.
He was dropped from the England T20 team earlier in the year but Watson backed the classy 27-year-old right-hander to bounce back.
."He's still only a young man really, so he's got a lot of cricket to go, a lot of improvement to go as well, which is a scary thing," Watson said.
"So when anytime you get a setback, it's only motivation to get better and this is a great opportunity for him."
Share
