Cricket: Say Marcus Stoinis who? Well, watch that digger

It's the bowling ability of Marcus Stoinis that should worry opponents more. PHOTO/PHOTOSPORT

If you frowned and asked "Marcus Stoinis who?" while staring at the TV yesterday watching the Black Caps v Australia ODI in Auckland then you're not alone.

Marcus Peter Stoinis, who came a lousy, lusty six shy of doing the unthinkable at Eden Park last night, is someone who had played an ODI and a T20 for Australia.

With the top order gone for loose change, the 27-year-old from Western Australia showed the Kiwi new-ball pair of Tim Southee and Trent Boult no respect, peppering the boundaries nine times and heaving the ball over the ropes on 11 occasions for his unbeaten 146 runs in facing 117 deliveries and occupying the crease for 161 minutes.

But while all the hoopla is on Stoinis' bat-bludgeoning ability in Twenty20 fashion, the excitement should also be on his bowling prowess.

A right-arm medium pacer who can take the pace off for never-arriving deliveries, Stoinis took 3-49 yesterday in claiming the prized Black Caps scalps of Martin Guptill, Kane Williamson and Colin Munro.

It'll be interesting to see how the Western Australian-born cricketer, who carved a niche in Victoria, will fare in the second ODI at McLean Park, Napier, from 2pm on Thursday in the three-match series.

The tennis ball-like bounce on the wicket will pose a different challenge for the bloke who some cricket fans worldwide on social media believe will do Greece proud with his heritage.

Stoinis, who was with the likes of Steven Smith, the late Phillip Hughes, James Faulkner, James Pattinson and Josh Hazlewood in the 2008 Under-19 World Cup side, reportedly grappled with his mental demons but has now well and truly exorcised them.

He is in fact a top-order domestic batsman who IPL franchise Kings XI Punjab signed up last year.

It's hard to comprehend Australia not taking someone with his attributes to the hostile arena of India in their impending tour.