Australia talent Marcus Stoinis still out in the selection wilderness

Stoinis has proved very useful on the field for Australia. The right-hander averages 31.98 at a healthy strike rate of 148 and can hold up an end with the ball as well. The Perth native once blasted 147 not out in a Big Bash League game, his personal best in the format. Stoinis was also on form in the last T20 World Cup, where he averaged 42.25 with the bat and took ten wickets.

However, the contractless 35-year-old is currently on the outside looking in when it comes to team selection. Stoinis has missed the last two T20 series as Cricket Australia selectors have a look at other finishing options.

But Stoinis is not sitting idle. He is currently plying his trade in the Hundred with the Trent Rockets.

"The nature of it is that you can't select yourself in an Australian jersey, but you can sign a contract to come and play in the Hundred," Stoinis told ESPN.

"When this opportunity came up, I spoke to Cricket Australia, I spoke to Ron [McDonald] and we made a plan around that, really… When you're planning it in advance, that makes it easier."

While chief selector George Bailey has stated Soinis has not been forgotten, Cricket Australia need to deepen the talent pool. His absence created an opportunity for 23-year-old all-rounder Mitchell Owen in the middle order, who impressed against the West Indies last month.

"Maybe it's because I'm older, but I want him to do well," said Stoinis of Owen.

"We were just with each other during the IPL [at Punjab Kings] and it's been good for him to play different roles.

"I'm also fully aware that myself and Maxi [Glenn Maxwell] - and, more recently, Timmy David - have been holding that spot through the middle of Australian cricket for a long time. It's very hard for other, young people to come through and have a crack at that… You need to bring through the next generation as well. It's no-one's spot."