Marsh only battling himself: North

Updated January 27, 2012 20:14:09

Former Test batsman Marcus North has urged national selectors to keep faith in out-of-form left-hander Shaun Marsh, insisting the 28-year-old will come good as soon as he has overcome his mental blockages.

Marsh has been a shadow of himself since suffering a back injury in South Africa two months ago, posting scores of 0, 0, 3, 0, 11, 3 and 0 in his past seven Test innings.

North knows what it is like being in the selection firing line after his own 21-Test career was brought to an end during last summer's Ashes series.

But the Western Australia captain says Marsh is an immense talent who will soon break free from his mental shackles.

"There's no doubt he's fighting himself more than anything," North said.

"It's such a mental game and it's just a matter of getting that breakthrough innings to get your thinking in the right way and having a bit of confidence.

"It was only a couple of months ago we were all talking about how good his technique was in South Africa.

"That innings he played with Michael Clarke in Cape Town (scoring 44) with the moving wicket was pretty exceptional."

With no more Tests to come before Australia's March-April tour of the West Indies, North says it is up to Marsh to prove his form in the one-day arena after his woeful India series average of 2.83.

"Six innings ago, we were all talking about Shaun Marsh as our first picked and there were comments about (Ricky) Ponting and (Mike) Hussey being dropped," he said.

Cricket Australia's high performance manager Pat Howard says Marsh will never be written off but he refused to be drawn on his short-term future.

"I'm not going to make a call on any individual - that is not my job," Howard told the Nine Network.

"And we never write anybody off. Everybody has got a journey."

AAP

Tags: cricket, sport, perth-6000, wa, australia

First posted January 27, 2012 19:26:47

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North eyeing overdue WA silverware

Updated January 27, 2012 18:45:51

Perth Scorchers skipper Marcus North is desperate to win Saturday's Big Bash final to end Western Australia cricket's eight-year trophy drought.

The Scorchers have already qualified for the lucrative Champions League, but North wants to go one step further against the Sydney Sixers to give local fans at the WACA ground some long-overdue cheer.

Western Australia dominated Sheffield Shield in the late 1990s when the likes of Tom Moody, Adam Gilchrist, Simon Katich and Damien Martyn starred for the state.

But since winning the then NAB Cup eight years ago no silverware has been collected by the state and North hopes the new city-based Perth franchise can change this.

"The last final we won was back in 2003/04 up at the Gabba with the one-day title so there haven't been too many opportunities for us to play in finals, let alone win some," North said.

"The guys who've been involved in that era of cricket are certainly motivated for tomorrow to do well for WA cricket.

"Even though this isn't under the Warriors brand, we're representing WA cricket and Perth.

"So to have some success and win a title would certainly make the players very proud but also reward the faith and the support that we've had from the WA cricket public."

North, in partnership with Herschelle Gibbs at the top of the order has been a big part of Perth's success.

Gibbs is averaging 50.33 this tournament after striking four half-centuries from his six knocks, while a rejuvenated North has compiled 251 runs at an average of 41.83.

North admits he is surprised even himself at how well he is gone and revealed his good form with the bat was helping him cope with the hectic job of being captain.

"It's certainly more enjoyable, and you feel the pressure's off when you're contributing," North said.

"Captaining in this format is pretty crazy.

"It's pretty full on and intense.

"There's been plenty of games this tournament where I've sat down at the end of it and been completely exhausted, and it takes two or three hours to wind down to go to bed that night.

"We've got a great bunch of guys, we've gelled together and are playing some really good cricket.

"So this tournament has certainly been up there with some of the most enjoyable cricket I've been able to captain."

North added that he is confident paceman Nathan Rimmington will overcome the pain of a broken hand to take his place in the final.

Meanwhile, Sixers captain Steve Smith is confident his charges can overcome Perth's stifling heat, a hostile crowd, a bouncy wicket.

The Sixers received a shock on Thursday when they traded Sydney's 27 degrees Celsius mildness for the 42 degrees Celsius pain of Perth.

Another 42 degrees scorcher is being forecast for Saturday's sold-out final, but Smith says neither the weather nor the Scorchers' talent-laden line-up held any fears for the Sixers.

"Obviously it's pretty hot out here at the moment but we've played a lot of cricket overseas in India and those sort of places, so it's probably nothing compared to what it is over there," Smith said.

AAP

Tags: twenty20, cricket, sport, perth-6000

First posted January 27, 2012 18:43:51

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