Brisbane Heat give up pursuit of Marcus Stoinis for next Big Bash season
What's the story?
Soon after identifying Marcus Stoinis as a potential target for the next edition of the Big Bash, Brisbane Heat have given up their pursuit of the Australian all-rounder.
"We touched base with Marcus and put together what we felt was an attractive offer. However, that offer is no longer on the table".
Brisbane Heat's Andrew McShea was quoted as saying to Cricket Australia.
In case you didn't know...
The 28-year-old Stoinis had been identified by Brisbane Heat to lap up the crucial No.3 spot, with the hopes of bolstering their squad for the next season of Australia's premier T20 tournament. Stonis is currently part of the Melbourne Stars.
The Heat team is also keen on acquiring the services of South African speedster Morne Morkel.
The heart of the matter
The Stars had a horrid last season, finishing at the bottom of the table with only two wins from 10 games.
Playing at the No.5 slot for the Stars in four out of the five-game he played last season, Stoinis missed out on a chunk of the tournament due to his international commitments.
Stoinis scored 493 runs and picked up 19 wickets in the 28 games he has played for the franchise.
What's next?
The Melbourne Stars, rocked by the departure of the trio of Kevin Pietersen, Rob Quiney and Luke Wright, will most likely see Marcus Stoinis hold his place in the side
Author's take
A talented all-rounder who can change the game with his aggressive batting style and effective medium-pace, Stoinis is a perfect fit for T20s.
While the reason why the deal was called off is still not clear, it will be a huge boost to Melbourne Stars to retain Stoinis, as the team already seems depleted by the departure of three of its batting stars.