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Stoinis learning to harness raw power

Allrounder's impressive MCG knock showcased the ability that could yet land him a seat on the Qantas jet to South Africa

The destructive power of allrounder Marcus Stoinis that had Kevin Pietersen labelling him the hardest hitter of a cricket ball he's ever seen shone through during Australia's defeat at the MCG on Sunday.

Playing his first international match in Australia, Stoinis found the boundary rope five times and went over it twice in hammering 60 from just 40 balls in a five-wicket loss to England.

Speaking before the match, the right-hander's Melbourne Stars teammate and mentor Pietersen had warned of the allrounder's devastating hitting ability.

"He hits the ball, I tell you something now, harder than anyone I've seen," Pietersen told Wide World of Sports.

"I've seen (Chris) Gayle, Yuvraj (Singh), (Mitchell) Marsh ... I've seen them all hit it, Stoinis hits the ball harder than them."

While Stoinis' late cameo wasn't enough to prevent an eighth defeat from Australia's past nine games, a shot he played to start the 44th over best underlined the extraordinary power Pietersen has been so impressed by.

Facing Mark Wood, Stoinis leapt off the ground as he muscled a cut shot over point that landed just centimetres in front of the boundary rope on the eastern side of the ground, with only the MCG's vast square boundaries – some of the longest in the world – preventing the ball from going all the way.

Having returned to the Australian side in New Zealand 12 months ago with an unbeaten 146 that will long be remembered as one of the best innings ever played in one-day international cricket, Stoinis will head into Friday's second game in Brisbane boasting a career average of 81 and a strike rate in excess of 105.

Finch fires at the MCG with a fine hundred

And his ability to both steady a wobbling top order – the No.6 has come to the crease with less than 120 on the board in five of eight innings over the past 12 months – and find the boundary rope (he's hit 30 fours and 20 sixes in those eight innings) has him in line to be called-up for Australia's upcoming Test tour of South Africa.

Former Test batsman Mike Hussey told cricket.com.au earlier this month that Stoinis would be the perfect replacement should reborn allrounder Mitchell Marsh suffer an injury.

Hussey selects his Aussie Test squad for SA

"He's a good batsman, he's played some excellent innings in one-day cricket for Australia and that might be a nice stepping stone for him to come up in the Test arena," Hussey told cricket.com.au.

"He can really help out with the ball, can provide some competition for Mitch Marsh in the team and is handy to help out in both disciplines."

The Western Australian also has the backing of former Test spinner Shane Warne.

"The way he gets his runs could be really important and I like his calmness," Warne wrote for News Corp last week.

"I'd have him in the squad for South Africa. He's a back-up batsman, he's a great utility player and his bowling is getting better.

"We have seen enough of him in international cricket to know he has the temperament needed at the highest level. He is one of those players who, when he makes the step up, his game will step up, too."

2017-18 International Fixtures

Gillette ODI Series v England

Australia ODI squad: Steve Smith (c), David Warner (vc), Pat Cummins, Aaron Finch, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh, Tim Paine, Jhye Richardson, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, Andrew Tye, Cameron White, Adam Zampa.

England ODI squad: Eoin Morgan (c), Moeen Ali, Jonny Bairstow, Jake Ball, Sam Billings, Jos Buttler, Tom Curran, Alex Hales, Dawid Malan, Liam Plunkett, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Jason Roy, David Willey, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood.

First ODI England won by five wickets at the MCG.

Second ODI Gabba, January 19. Tickets

Third ODI SCG, January 21. Tickets

Fourth ODI Adelaide Oval, January 26. Tickets

Fifth ODI Perth Stadium, January 28. Tickets

Prime Minister's XI

PM's XI v England Manuka Oval, February 2. Tickets

Gillette T20 trans-Tasman Tri-Series

England T20 squad: Eoin Morgan (c), Sam Billings, Jos Buttler, Tom Curran, Liam Dawson, Alex Hales, Chris Jordan, Dawid Malan, Liam Plunkett, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Jason Roy, Ben Stokes, James Vince, David Willey, Mark Wood.

First T20I Australia v NZ, SCG, February 3. Tickets

Second T20I Australia v England, Blundstone Arena, February 7. Tickets

Third T20I Australia v England, MCG, February 10. Tickets

Fourth T20I NZ v England, Wellington, February 14

Fifth T20I NZ v Australia, Eden Park, February 16

Sixth T20I NZ v England, Seddon Park, February 18

Final TBC, Eden Park, February 21