Melbourne Stars re-sign Marcus Stoinis for three more seasons

Melbourne Stars didn't have a great campaign in the recently concluded Big Bash League (BBL). They finished sixth on the points table with four wins and six losses from the 10 games they played. This was the fourth consecutive season in which the Stars couldn't progress beyond the league stage. The talismanic Glenn Maxwell also relinquished captaincy after their last league game.

The Stars would look to turn their fortunes around next season. Marcus Stoinis, who has made 98 appearances for them and contributed with both bat and ball, has been given a contract extension by the Stars that will see him represent the side till the end of BBL 16 in 2026-2027. The 34-year-old is second on the list of top run-getters for Melbourne. He is also the sixth-highest wicket-taker of all time for the Melbourne-based team.

"Marcus is obviously one of the most experienced and well performed T20 players in Australia over the last decade and for him to commit for another three seasons is a great demonstration of the faith he has in where we are headed," said Melbourne Stars General Manager Blair Crouch in a statement released by the Stars.

"He is one of the most in-demand T20 players in the world and as we saw on New Year's Eve again this year, when he was at his destructive best, he is one of very few players who can win a match off his own bat. As well as what Marcus brings on the field, he, along with the other senior players will play a huge role over the next few years in developing the next generation at the Stars," Crouch added.

As Stoinis went out of contract, few of the other BBL teams showed interest in acquiring his services. Perth Scorchers were one of the teams that were quite keen to rope him in. The veteran is based in Perth and plays for Western Australia in domestic cricket. He also played three games for the Scorchers back in the 2012-2013 edition of the BBL before moving to Melbourne.

Stoinis will have the chance to become only the second player to represent Melbourne Stars in 100 BBL matches after Maxwell achieved the landmark last season. The 34-year-old could be a contender for the captaincy role next season.

After being dropped from the ODI side, Stoinis has decided to spend more time playing franchise cricket. He is unlikely to get another Cricket Australia central contract next season. However, he has been picked in Australia's T20I squad for the three-match series against the West Indies next month. Stoinis is currently playing for the Durban Super Giants in SA20 2024 and has scored 63 runs in four innings at a strike rate of 105.