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A refreshed Marcus North will use the remainder of Western Australia’s domestic campaign to prove to national selectors he deserves to retain his Test spot.
North made a sensational start to his Test career last year, scoring a century on debut against South Africa before compiling notable knocks of 125 not out, 96 and 110 during Australia’s Ashes loss to England.
But the 30-year-old’s place in the Test team has come under fire following a lean summer with the bat, returning just 207 runs at an average of 23 against the West Indies and Pakistan.
Australia’s next Test assignment is a two-match series against New Zealand in late March, leaving North with four Sheffield Shield games and three one-dayers for Western Australia to find the form needed to ensure he keeps his spot at No.6 in the Test set-up.
“Like I said all along I’ve been feeling pretty good with the bat so I’m kind of excited to get out there (for the Warriors) and give myself an opportunity to start scoring some runs,” North said on Wednesday ahead of Saturday’s one-dayer against the Redbacks in Adelaide.
“What a perfect time to do it for Western Australia in the next four, five, six weeks and hopefully by doing that my position in the Australian team should be OK.
“I’ve refreshed after a week off after the Test series.
“I don’t think I have to prove myself (again to selectors).
“It’s just a matter I guess of getting out of a little bit of a dip in form where I haven’t produced the runs I would have liked in the last few Tests.
“Before the last Test in Tassie I spoke to the selectors and Ricky (Ponting) and they had 100 per cent support and backing of me which was nice.
“But all I’m focusing on now is playing well with WA.”
North said luck was the only ingredient missing from his game at the moment.
“I just need a bit of luck to get through that initial start and to get a score,” he said.
“Punter said something similar and we saw he had a bit of luck in Tassie and it cost them (Pakistan) 200 (runs after they dropped him on zero) and he’s back in great form.
“So hopefully I can get that luck and get through the initial start in my innings and by doing that hopefully a few big scores are around the corner.”
WA sit fourth on the Ford Ranger Cup table but are just three points adrift of second-placed Tasmania with three games still to play.
The Warriors sit third on the Sheffield Shield ladder with three of their final four games to be played at home.
“I guess we are fortunate we are in control of our own destiny and we’ve got ourselves in a position where it’s realistic we can be in two finals,” North said.
“We want to be pushing for finals and pushing to hold a trophy up at the end of the season.”
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