Nottingham: Marcus Stoinis has bowled pain-free in a secret training session but his moment of truth was still to come in a bid to prove he should remain a part of Australia's World Cup defence.
Before two journalists, a sprinkling of school children and security officers, Stoinis took to the nets on a sunny Monday afternoon at Trent Bridge, at a time team management had insisted was a second day off for the world champions.
Australia's Marcus Stoinis bowls during the Cricket World Cup match between India and Australia at the Oval in London.Credit:AP
That was the case for most players but The Age-Sydney Morning Herald was one of only two outlets on hand as Stoinis, Mitch Marsh and Nathan Coulter-Nile held a session that lasted almost two hours.
Stoinis has a low-grade side strain, hurt against India more than a week ago at the Oval, and must prove he can bowl at full pace if he is to regain his spot for Thursday's clash against buoyant Bangladesh.
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He bowled about two dozen deliveries, lifting from slow to medium pace, and was in regular consultation with bowling coach Adam Griffith, physical performance coach Aaron Kellett and team doctor Richard Saw. The hard-hitting allrounder then spent almost an hour batting, and did not really want to leave the nets when facing five young local bowlers.
He was in good spirits as he left the field, reported no pain but knows he will need to pass a fitness test at training on Tuesday night (Australian time) to show he should return.
Australia also have the option of waiting until the end of the week to make a call, should they believe he is close to full fitness and would be available for selection by next Tuesday's marquee clash against England.
Should Stoinis be ruled out, and he cannot return under International Cricket Council laws, he will be replaced by Marsh. It was an intriguing dynamic to watch the pair bat in the nets next to each other, or when Marsh bowled to Stoinis, knowing only one would soon have a World Cup dream that remains alive.
Marsh, who averages 35.7 with the bat and 35.54 with the ball in one-day internationals, has not played a competitive match since the Sheffield Shield season finished in March but was in good touch. He will either play against Bangladesh, or return to the Australia A one-day squad, which has its opening tour match against Northamptonshire, also on Thursday.
Coulter-Nile, returning to the scene of his match-winning heroics against the West Indies, bowled off his full run up, and appeared over any niggles that had led to him being rested against Sri Lanka.
Australia are wary of a Bangladesh side that claimed an upset win over South Africa and stormed to a seven-wicket victory over the West Indies on Tuesday, completing their highest run chase ever in overhauling the 322 needed for victory.
Allrounder Shakib Al Hasan posted his second-straight century and now has 384 runs at 128 for the tournament – passing Aaron Finch into top spot.
While they boast a 4-1 tournament record, the Australians admit they have yet to discover their best XI. This was not helped by the iRead More – Source
Nottingham: Marcus Stoinis has bowled pain-free in a secret training session but his moment of truth was still to come in a bid to prove he should remain a part of Australia's World Cup defence.
Before two journalists, a sprinkling of school children and security officers, Stoinis took to the nets on a sunny Monday afternoon at Trent Bridge, at a time team management had insisted was a second day off for the world champions.
Australia's Marcus Stoinis bowls during the Cricket World Cup match between India and Australia at the Oval in London.Credit:AP
That was the case for most players but The Age-Sydney Morning Herald was one of only two outlets on hand as Stoinis, Mitch Marsh and Nathan Coulter-Nile held a session that lasted almost two hours.
Stoinis has a low-grade side strain, hurt against India more than a week ago at the Oval, and must prove he can bowl at full pace if he is to regain his spot for Thursday's clash against buoyant Bangladesh.
Advertisement
He bowled about two dozen deliveries, lifting from slow to medium pace, and was in regular consultation with bowling coach Adam Griffith, physical performance coach Aaron Kellett and team doctor Richard Saw. The hard-hitting allrounder then spent almost an hour batting, and did not really want to leave the nets when facing five young local bowlers.
He was in good spirits as he left the field, reported no pain but knows he will need to pass a fitness test at training on Tuesday night (Australian time) to show he should return.
Australia also have the option of waiting until the end of the week to make a call, should they believe he is close to full fitness and would be available for selection by next Tuesday's marquee clash against England.
Should Stoinis be ruled out, and he cannot return under International Cricket Council laws, he will be replaced by Marsh. It was an intriguing dynamic to watch the pair bat in the nets next to each other, or when Marsh bowled to Stoinis, knowing only one would soon have a World Cup dream that remains alive.
Marsh, who averages 35.7 with the bat and 35.54 with the ball in one-day internationals, has not played a competitive match since the Sheffield Shield season finished in March but was in good touch. He will either play against Bangladesh, or return to the Australia A one-day squad, which has its opening tour match against Northamptonshire, also on Thursday.
Coulter-Nile, returning to the scene of his match-winning heroics against the West Indies, bowled off his full run up, and appeared over any niggles that had led to him being rested against Sri Lanka.
Australia are wary of a Bangladesh side that claimed an upset win over South Africa and stormed to a seven-wicket victory over the West Indies on Tuesday, completing their highest run chase ever in overhauling the 322 needed for victory.
Allrounder Shakib Al Hasan posted his second-straight century and now has 384 runs at 128 for the tournament – passing Aaron Finch into top spot.
While they boast a 4-1 tournament record, the Australians admit they have yet to discover their best XI. This was not helped by the iRead More – Source
