‘He’s going to be a superstar’: Stoinis lauds WA youngster

22 Sep 2019 Jonathan Healy

Allrounder says it won’t be long until young Western Australia wicketkeeper-batsman Josh Philippe is playing at the highest level

Australia allrounder Marcus Stoinis has identified state teammate Josh Phillipe as a player of immense talent and believes the youngster has the ability to take the world by storm.

Philippe made his first-class debut for Western Australia last year and showed glimpses of his prowess with some impressive individual performances for his state and in the KFC Big Bash League with the Sydney Sixers.

The 22-year-old scored 439 Shield runs last summer at an average north of 30, while his 304 runs at a strike rate greater than 150 in the BBL caught the eye of national selectors.

Philippe spent the off-season with the National Performance Squad in India and looked at ease in the opening Marsh One-Day Cup match of the summer when he contributed a classy half-century for Western Australia during their 125-run triumph over Victoria on Saturday.

While Stoinis stole most of the headlines for his brilliant century at the WACA Ground, Phillipe's quickfire 61 from just 43 deliveries at the top of the batting order was just as pivotal as the hosts posted a large total of 8-386 from their 50 overs.

Stoinis goes ballistic to smash brilliant last-ball ton

Philippe put on 77 for the opening wicket alongside limited overs star D'Arcy Short and Stoinis thinks the talented opener has the world at his feet if he can continue to develop as a player.

"Flip (Philippe) is unbelievable," Stoinis said after the victory.

"He is that good and I think he’s going to be a superstar."

Philippe's efforts with the bat wasn't the only individual performance to catch the eye of Stoinis on Saturday, with the experienced allrounder also saving plenty of praise for his bowling group.

Western Australia used seven bowlers to help dismiss Victoria for just 261, with spinner Ashton Agar (3-54), paceman Nathan Coulter-Nile (2-40) and seamer Andrew Tye (2-28) managing multiple scalps in the victory.

But it was the efforts of Matt Kelly that shone brightest for Stoinis, with the young quick picking up the wicket of Matt Short early in Victoria's innings to finish with figures of 1-32 at an impressive economy rate of just 5.33 in a high-scoring game.

Match wrap: WA thrash Vics, lay down Marsh Cup marker

Kelly and Philippe were the only two players in Western Australia's playing XI on Saturday without any international experience, but Stoinis believes that will change very soon.

"They’re both not far away (from national selection), they’re both very good," Stoinis said.

"Matt Kelly did no harm for himself bowling beautiful yorkers last year in the Big Bash and that picked him up an IPL contract.

"And Flip, the world is his oyster."

Western Australia's next Marsh Cup fixture is at the WACA on Wednesday and Adam Voges' side have the luxury of being able to include skipper Mitch Marsh for the clash after he was rested for the opening match against Victoria.