IPL changed my cricket, helped me evolve: Stoinis
The Hindu
Generally tentative against spin, Marcus Stoinis scored 59 off 18 against the Sri Lankan spinners to ensure a confidence-boosting win for the defending champions
Australia all-rounder Marcus Stoinis has credited the IPL for his evolution as a better cricketer, especially a transformation in his attitude against spinners, which was on full display in the T20 World Cup game against Sri Lanka here.
Generally tentative against spin, Stoinis (59 not out off 18) tore apart the Sri Lankan spin duo of Wanindu Hasaranga and Maheesh Theekshana to ensure a confidence-boosting seven-wicket win for the defending champions after a disastrous start to their World Cup campaign.
"Yeah, definitely the IPL has changed my cricket and helped me evolve, and it's not only playing on the wickets, it's having the coaches from all over the world, having players from different countries," Stoinis said after the win on Tuesday night.
"I've played for quite a few years in the IPL and quite a few teams, so you come across a range of techniques and mentalities about how to play spin. Yeah, it has helped me improve for sure.
"But yeah, so I'm looking for two balls really, one off the back foot and one off the front foot, just to at least have an option to each," he said.
"You sort of then go from there. You're trying to get the field that you want, which is sometimes why you want to play a lap or reverse or a sweep shot, which I'm working on sort of thing."
Stoinis also created a new record for the fastest T20 International half-century by an Australian en route his power-packed knock, but the all-rounder said he was actually nervous while walking out to bat.