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Australian middle-order batsman Marcus North has made the perfect start to a crucial month as he tries to build momentum ahead of the Ashes.
As national selector Greg Chappell watched, North scored an unbeaten 94 on Saturday night and captained WA to an upset win over Victoria in their one-day match at the MCG.
It followed his 128 in the second Test against India, but North is acutely aware of being in the spotlight ahead of the Ashes opener on November 25 at the `Gabba.
Before his ton in the first innings at Bangalore, the No.6 had not passed 20 in his previous six Test knocks.
“I’ve got a good opportunity now and it’s a good start,” North said after Saturday’s win.
“This three or four weeks that I’ve got, I won’t be resting on that (his unbeaten 94).
“I’ll be going to Adelaide for a one-dayer and a Shield game and hopefully getting some runs there.
“We’ve got a three-day game against England at the WACA and then a four-day game here (at the MCG against Victoria November 17-20) before the first Test.
“So there’s a fair bit of cricket and I’m looking forward to it.”
North batted well against the Bushrangers, scoring his 94 off 97 balls and hitting seven fours and a six, although he was also dropped on 70 and 92.
He put on 176 for the third wicket with Liam Davis, who made 108.
The new split-innings format meant North had to effectively start his knock twice and he was pleased to meet the challenge.
North said he was working “very hard” to combat the tendency to fail early in his Test knocks.
“Certainly the plan is to play all this cricket and get a lot of runs under my belt,” he said.
“The good thing is I started twice in this game (resuming after the 20-over mark in the 45-over format).
“It’s all about building on that, working on that.”
North said Victoria had a Test-standard bowling attack and he praised his WA side for upsetting the Bushrangers at home.
It was Davis’ second one-day ton this season and North said the 26-year-old deserved his success.
“Liam has shown his potential over the years,” North said.
“He’s been a little bit in and out of the side.
“He has worked very very hard and he has come on in leaps and bounds.”
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