Stoinis ready to spring surprises in 'A' series

If the Indian Premier League handed out a 'surprise packet' award at the end of the tournament – bear in mind the 2016 competition featured nine separate individual honours – Australian Marcus Stoinis would have been a short-priced favourite to win it.

Having not played a game for the Delhi Daredevils in his first IPL campaign 12 months earlier, Stoinis linked with Kings XI Punjab for the 2016 season with two Australia caps to his name but limited international experience or exposure.

And while a return of 146 runs at 36, eight wickets at 24 and two man-of-the-match awards in seven games may have shocked the rest of the cricket world, the man himself tells cricket.com.au he was far from surprised.

"I've got to be honest – I don't want to come across as arrogant – but no, I didn't surprise myself," said Stoinis, an affable character and an unlikely candidate to ever be labelled 'arrogant'.

"Everyone works hard, I know that, but I know how hard I'd worked. That's where confidence comes from; knowing you've worked hard, knowing you've done the work, and you're ready to go.

"And when preparation meets opportunity, that's the best feeling in sport.

"Equally, that can't be done in just one tournament. That's got to be done over a whole career, that's what the good players do and I understand that."

Image Id: ~/media/2945F5AC4E3C420B8E26BADEE78513F3 Image Caption: Stoinis and Vijay talk tactics in the IPL // Sportzpics

Stoinis credits his IPL skipper Murali Vijay, who took over the captaincy from David Miller partway through a tumultuous campaign for the Kings XI, for allowing the WA-born allrounder to flourish against some of the best players in the world.

Having lost five of their first six matches, of which Stoinis played just one, the Kings XI shook up their side – including their captaincy – as the tournament entered its second month.

Not only did the team's hierarchy give Stoinis more opportunities in the side, Vijay threw the 26-year-old into the metaphorical deep end.

Elevated to open the batting and often brought on to bowl at first change, Stoinis responded with three vital innings and two match-changing hauls with the ball.

The highlights were a match-winning double of 52 and three wickets against his former side Delhi as well as superb figures of 4-15 from four overs against defending champions Mumbai, including the wickets of imports Kieron Pollard and Jos Buttler.

"When you get put in those environments and put in those situations, you get found out pretty quick," he says.

"So you've got to adapt, you've got to learn and you've got to speak to people. We had good senior players in our group so the conversations were good.

"When you're prepared and those opportunity comes around, there's no better feeling than that.

"That was an example to me that having good preparation and then getting the opportunity, I was in a good space to take the game by the horns and get involved in the big moments.

"I had a captain who was supporting me, who was throwing me the ball and putting me in situations with the bat to influence the game."

Image Id: ~/media/C991EAEEE0FF452EA2EF62FB6A3330CB Image Caption: Stoinis thrived by being put in pressure situations // Sportzpics

The IPL experience has given Stoinis the hunger for more of the same upon his return home, starting with the Australia 'A' series in Queensland in the coming months.

The Bushrangers allrounder will face one of the sternest tests of his young career in Brisbane this weekend when the 'A' side takes on a South Africa 'A' line-up featuring Test players like Vernon Philander, Dean Elgar and Temba Bavuma in a four-day clash at Allan Border Field in Brisbane.

The venue holds fond memories for Stoinis; it was here in July last year that he smashed six sixes in an over during a warm-up match ahead of the 'A' side's tour of India.

While the right-hander is unlikely to launch the likes of Philander over the pickets too often during the 'A' matches this year, he says continuing to develop a desire for the big moments is one of his goals for the coming season.

"A major part is wanting to be involved in every contest," he says

"Wanting to bowl when the times are tough, wanting to bat when the times are tough, wanting to take the catch, wanting to change the game.

"From watching the best players in all forms of cricket, you can really see that they want to be the guy to change the game and win the game. That's a mindset thing."

Another obvious target for Stoinis - as it is for every domestic cricketer - is to represent his country at Test level and add to the one-day international and one T20 he played on the tour of England last year.

And when that chance does come, his IPL campaign shows that at the very least, he won't be overawed.