Stoinis on song to lift Australians

Marcus Stoinis insisted any crowd banter aimed at Australia was good natured as Justin Langer’s side eased past Sussex at Hove yesterday.

Stoinis hit 110 as Australia secured a 57run victory in their warmup clash ahead of their five-match one-day series against England.

New head coach Langer led Australia into action for the first time since March’s ball-tampering scandal, with Tim Paine taking the captaincy duties.

The Hove crowd threw out several barbs around Australia’s ball doctoring shame, but Stoinis insisted the tourists were happy to take any flak on the chin.

“The banter was pretty good, you could hear them singing,” said Stoinis.

“It’s all in good spirits, and the boys on the boundary said it was good too. It’s only what you’d expect.”

Australia made 277 for nine from their 50 overs, with opener Aaron Finch making 78 to add to Stoinis’s standout score.

The tourists then bowled Sussex out for 220 in 42.3 overs, with Phil Salt top-scoring with 62.

Stoinis believes Australia are now ready to move on into a new era.

“We haven’t spoken about it (the ball-tampering scandal) too much to be honest,” said Stoinis.

“It’s more the fact we’re so lucky to be playing, in this team, travelling through England playing on beautiful grounds against good opposition and going into a good series.

“It’s focusing on your job, what you have to do and enjoy what you can.”

Australia face Middlesex tomorrow before starting the one-day series against England at The Oval on Wednesday.

Mike Hesson has resigned as coach of New Zealand after six years in command. His deal was due to run out after the 2019 World Cup.

Hesson, 43, said: “I don’t feel I have the capacity to give the job what it deserves.”

Former England wicketkeeper Steve Rhodes is the new coach of Bangladesh on a two-year contract until the 2020 World Twenty20 Cup.

Rhodes replaces Sri Lankan Chandika Hathurusingha, who stepped down in October after three years in charge.