India’s batting line-up poses a “big threat” and Australia need to score huge runs to counter the hosts during the five-match ODI series beginning on September 17, all-rounder Marcus Stoinis said on Tuesday.
Stoinis on Tuesday hammered a 60-ball 76 to guide Australia to a 103-run crushing win over Board President’s (BP) XI in the lone practice match at the MA Chidambaram Stadium here.
“I think we have to score a lot of runs in this series. They (India) are batting really well. I think heavy runs, 350 it will be for sure,” he said when asked if scores over 300 would be the norm in the upcoming ODI series.
Asked who he considers a threat in the India team, Stoinis quipped: “All of them are a big threat. Every single one of them are great players, very good players.”
Stoinis, who also grabbed a wicket, said there were a lot of positives for the team.
“Positives with the bat is, the batters made good runs early and in terms of spinners Ashton Agar bowled beautifully. Just understanding the conditions and the lengths one has to bowl,” he said.
Stoinis said playing in the IPL and having knowledge of the conditions helped him perform better.
“Obviously, being exposed to conditions helped. Also, working with (Sridharan) Sriram has been good. Sriram and I get on well together. We were in Delhi together during my first IPL and it is good for me,” he said.
There are quite a few all-rounders in the current Australian side and Stoinis said it is a good headache to have for the selectors.
“It is a good headache to have. However, James Faulkner and myself are different types of all-rounders. I am a batting all-rounder and he is probably more on the bowling side and a left-armer and brings a different aspect to the team’s bowling. It is upto the selectors,” he said.
Meanwhile, Board President’s XI coach Hemang Badani said Australia total was 40 too many.
“It was definitely not a 350 wicket and the Aussie total was 40 too many. 280-290 we would have planned differently. Chasing nearly 350, it was difficult from ball one. A target of around 280-290 would have been an even game,” Badani said.