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When the selectors sit down and select the squad for the Test matches versus New Zealand, Marcus North’s name should appear in the number six spot.
“I hope the selectors look at my Test career and the form I showed in South Africa and England, and against the West Indies, I’ve played 13 Test matches and had three bad ones in a row, so hopefully the selectors can look at the bigger picture,” he said.
North’s form in South Africa played a major role in the series win, and his form throughout the Ashes was sparkling. Two hundreds at Cardiff and Leeds along with a match saving 96 at Edgbaston made the number six spot his own.
He also adds a great cricketing brain to the side, throughout the Ashes and this summer, Ricky Ponting has been seen consulting North in the field. This factor can’t be ignored.
A disappointing summer though has led to the view around the country that he will be axed, but should the selectors drop him just for the sake of dropping him or should a candidate be banging down the door?
There are plenty of candidates around the country to bat in the side but not many to bat at number six.
Put lines through Michael Klinger, Ed Cowan and Philip Hughes. They have had good summers but are top order batsman and aren’t an option to bat at number six.
Also put lines through David Hussey and George Bailey. Hussey was left out of the One Day side, a sign of the selectors willingness to look at other options, and unfortunately he may have missed the boat when it comes to Test match cricket.
Bailey has had a decent season, 692 runs at 43.25 but he is a better bat than that and should set himself for a big summer next season.
The remaining three are all great talents. Shaun Marsh is starting to fulfill his huge potential but injury and his selection in for One Day side have given him limited but productive appearances in the Shield for Western Australia (477 runs at 59.62 average).
Cameron White is in the same situation as Marsh but his form for Australia in the one dayers has been excellent and ones feels he could be selected in the side to play the Andrew Symonds role at number six. White has the added bonus of being able to match North’s cricketing brain, having done a great job as Victorian captain.
Steve Smith is the final candidate and has made a late run for the place after making 177 against Tasmania last week. 672 runs at 74.66 with three centuries is a great summer and add the potential he has with the ball and this guy is a future Test star.
The race realistically then has three runners. Stick with the incumbent in North and tell him he’s got two Tests, make or break.
Marsh may well be out of the running with injury or is he so much in the running that he was rested by the selectors from the One Day series to make sure he was right for the Test series?
Or back to the counterattacking number six in the form of White. Worked, sort of, with Andrew Symonds but two hundreds in 23 Tests compared to North’s three in his first 13 has to push some advantage for North to remain as the Test number six.
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