North cements hopes of Ashes berth with unbeaten 94 against Victoria
By ANISunday, October 24, 2010
MELBOURNE - Australian middle-order batsman Marcus North has done his chances of securing a spot in the Ashes squad no harm by scoring an unbeaten 94 for Western Australia in an upset one-day win over Victoria at the Melbourne Cricket Ground here on Saturday.
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.
“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,” the Sydney Morning Herald quoted North, as saying.
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.
North said he was working “very hard” to combat the tendency to fail early in his Test knocks. (ANI)
