Kevin Pietersen can be England's answer to Michael Clarke. That is the verdict of Australian leg-spinner Stuart MacGill, who has been Pietersen's teammate at Nottinghamshire for the past three seasons, and cannot understand why the Hampshire new boy has not made the cut for England's Test and one-day trips to South Africa.

Durban-born all-rounder Pietersen, 24, notched an unbeaten 27 to help steer England to victory in the first one-day international of the four-match series with Zimbabwe and yesterday smashed 77 from 76 balls to rescue England and set up a second consecutive win.

He has been left out of the party to tour his homeland in two weeks' time because of the likely controversy over his decision to carve out a Test career with England.

But MacGill believes that Pietersen, who has scored 5,500 runs at an average of more than 50 for Notts in the past four years, could handle any criticism in South Africa relating to his decision to switch his allegiance. MacGill said: "I am very disappointed that Kevin has not been selected for England's tour of South Africa.

"He averaged 60 for Notts last season and is a match winner in both one-day and four-day cricket.

"At the age of 22, he has already scored three double hundreds, and is a brilliant fielder anywhere.

"Hampshire have signed one of the best players in county cricket, with more ability than most of the England players.

"Kevin is a wonderful player who can score runs off both the front and back foot, he hits boundaries with genuine cricket shots and doesn't need to slog.

"His footwork against the spinners is excellent and he uses the sweep shot very well.

"He will have as big an impact on English cricket as Michael Clarke has for Australia if he is given an opportunity by the selectors.

"I am not here to criticise the selectors or the standard of county cricket, but as a player all you can do is dominate at the level you are playing in, and Kevin has done that for Notts.

"I could be wrong and he might not be as good as we think when he plays for England, but Kevin deserves a chance to prove himself, and should have been picked for the South Africa tour."

MacGill also believes that the signing of another Notts player, the former England under-15, 17 and 19 fast bower Richard Logan, will help Hampshire in the county championship's first division.

"Warnie told me that he wanted Hampshire to sign one of the two best opposition bowlers, who impressed him at the Rose Bowl last summer.

"Logan is one of the fastest bowlers in England but he didn't have the confidence of his coaches at Notts and, after a few injuries, only played a few games over the past two seasons.

"The move to Hampshire will fill him with confidence. He can be used as a strike bowler and also bowl long spells. His last over of the day is as fast as his first and he is a very exciting prospect."

Hampshire captain Shane Warne refers to MacGill as "the second best spin bowler in Australia". In another era MacGill, 33, would have played more than 32 Tests for his country, but contrary to speculation in the past, he has never been bitter towards Warne.

He said: "Warnie and I always get on with each other. The media sometimes make up stories about us that are not true.

"There has never been a problem between us."